San Lorenzo de El Escorial, Madrid
Encyclopedia
Municipio
Municipio and Município are terms used for country subdivisions. They are often translated as municipality.-Overview:...
in the Community of Madrid, Spain, located to the northwest of the region in the southeastern side of the Sierra de Guadarrama
Sierra de Guadarrama
The Sierra de Guadarrama is a mountain range forming the main eastern section of the Sistema Central, the system of mountain ranges at the centre of the Iberian Peninsula. It is located between the Sierra de Gredos in the province of Ávila, and Sierra de Ayllón in the province of Guadalajara...
, at the foot of Mount Abantos
Mount Abantos
Mount Abantos is a mountain in the Sierra de Guadarrama range in the Sistema Central of Spain, a chain that runs from east to west. For the most part, the mountain is located in the municipality of San Lorenzo de El Escorial in the Community of Madrid, with part of its west side in the province of...
and Las Machotas, 29 miles (46.7 km) from Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
. It is head of the same name judicial party. The settlement is popularly called El Escorial de Arriba, to differentiate it from the neighbouring village of El Escorial
El Escorial, Madrid
El Escorial is a municipality in the Autonomous Community of Madrid, located 45 km northwest of the Spanish capital Madrid. Its population in 2009 was 14,979.The territory of El Escorial is home to the park of La Granjilla de la Fresneda...
, also known as El Escorial de Abajo. The town is approximately 47 kilometres (29.2 mi) from the capital.
The Monastery of El Escorial is the most prominent building in the town and is one of the main Spanish Renaissance
Architecture of the Spanish Renaissance
Renaissance architecture was that style of architecture which evolved firstly in Florence and then Rome and other parts of Italy as the result of Humanism and a revived interest in Classical architecture...
monuments. The Valley of the Fallen also falls within the boundaries of the municipality.
The monastery and its historic surroundings were declared a World Heritage Site
World Heritage Site
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...
UNESCO on November 2, 1984, under the name of "El Escorial, monastery and site".
The site also enjoys protection on Spain's heritage register; since June 21, 2006, it has been protected by the Community of Madrid as a Property of Cultural Interest.
San Lorenzo de El Escorial is located on the southern slopes of the Mount Abantos (elevation 1753 m). The average altitude of the municipality is 1032 metres (3,385.8 ft), and most of the urban area is above 1000 metres (3,280.8 ft). The hamlet initially sprang up around Monastery of El Escorial, gradually extending up the mountain. In the 20th and 21st centuries, the town underwent a strong urban expansion, particularly towards the southeastern side of Mount Abantos.
Elevation and hydrography
The township's average altitude is 1032 metres (3,385.8 ft). Most of the town is situated at about 1000 metres (3,280.8 ft) above sea level, including the Monastery of El Escorial, which lies approximately 28 metres (91.9 ft) above the town. The highest part is the top of Mount Abantos, which is 1753 metres (5,751.3 ft) above sea level.The town covers a total area of 56.4 square kilometres (21.8 sq mi), most of which is mountainous terrain. In the south of the municipality is the Circo de El Escorial, bordered by the southern slopes of Mount Abantos to the south and the Las Machotas mountains to the north. North, along the slope to Cuelgamuros, lies the Valley of the Fallen, near the border with Guadarrama Abantos Southeast. Towards the Southwest, the municipality extends down to El Escorial by the parks and gardens of the Casita del Principe.
San Lorenzo de El Escorial lies in the watershed of the River Guadarrama. The streams that originate in Abantos flow to the Aulencia, the main tributary of the Guadarrama, originating in Las Machotas and crossing the neighbouring village of El Escorial. The streams include small reservoirs.
Vegetation
The types of vegetation differ due to the municipality's fluctuation in altitude. In its lower altitudes, about 3,000 ft (900 m), are adehesadas fresnedas of Fraxinus angustifolia; and in the forest of the Herrería, the melojares of Quercus pyrenaica, chestnut (Castanea sativa) and the Montpellier Maple (Acer monspessulanum) grow.In the higher altitudes (3,300–6,300 mi (1,000–1,200 m)) appear pine trees Pinus pinaster and Pinus pinea, as well as Holm (Quercus ilex), junipers (Juniperus oxycedrus
Juniperus oxycedrus
Juniperus oxycedrus is a species of juniper, native across the Mediterranean region from Morocco and Portugal, north to southern France, east to westernmost Iran, and south to Lebanon and Israel, growing on a variety of rocky sites from sea level up...
) and jarales Cistus ladanifer. The 3,900 and 5,600 ft (1,200 and 1,700 m), include pine Pinus (Pinus sylvestris) and black pine trees (Pinus nigra), and roquedo in ecosystems on the summits of Abantos graníticos
Granito
Granito is a city in the state of Pernambuco, Brazil. The population in 2009, according with IBGE was 6.944 inhabitants and the total area is 521.86 km².-Geography:* State - Pernambuco* Region - Sertão Pernambucano...
.
San Lorenzo de El Escorial also has some allochthonous in its mountain areas, plant species as beech (American beech
American Beech
Fagus grandifolia, also known as American Beech or North american beech, is a species of beech native to eastern North America, from Nova Scotia west to southern Ontario in southeastern Canada, west to Wisconsin and south to eastern Texas and northern Florida in the United States. Trees in the...
), cedars (Cedrus sp.), larch (Larix SP.), cypresses (Chamaecyparis lawsoniana), and maple (Acer pseudoplatanus). Students of a forestry school planted these trees during the early 20th century.
There are also trees of historical significance, including sequoias (Sequoiadendron giganteum), planted in the 18th century in parks and gardens of the Casita del Principe.
Much of the municipality is contained within the Pinar Abantos and the Herrería zone, a protected nature area since 1961 and extends to an area that San Lorenzo de El Escorial shares with Saint Mary of the Alameda.
On the edge of San Lorenzo, is a center of environmental education Arboretum Luis Ceballos, which houses a collection of over 200 species of trees and bushes native to Spain and the Balearic Islands
Balearic Islands
The Balearic Islands are an archipelago of Spain in the western Mediterranean Sea, near the eastern coast of the Iberian Peninsula.The four largest islands are: Majorca, Minorca, Ibiza and Formentera. The archipelago forms an autonomous community and a province of Spain with Palma as the capital...
.
History
The history of San Lorenzo de El Escorial is inexorably linked to the construction of the monastery and the town named El Escorial. The first historical references of this building date year 1558 where Philip II of SpainPhilip II of Spain
Philip II was King of Spain, Portugal, Naples, Sicily, and, while married to Mary I, King of England and Ireland. He was lord of the Seventeen Provinces from 1556 until 1581, holding various titles for the individual territories such as duke or count....
appointed a commission to find a proper place for the site, architects, doctors and quarrymen, among other guilds.
Hamlet El Escorial
El Escorial
The Royal Seat of San Lorenzo de El Escorial is a historical residence of the king of Spain, in the town of San Lorenzo de El Escorial, about 45 kilometres northwest of the capital, Madrid, in Spain. It is one of the Spanish royal sites and functions as a monastery, royal palace, museum, and...
met physical conditions for carrying out such company. Its abundance of forests, quarries and game reserves, the quality of its water and its place in the geographic center of Spain, at the foot of the mount Abantos
Mount Abantos
Mount Abantos is a mountain in the Sierra de Guadarrama range in the Sistema Central of Spain, a chain that runs from east to west. For the most part, the mountain is located in the municipality of San Lorenzo de El Escorial in the Community of Madrid, with part of its west side in the province of...
, were determining factors for the final choice, which took place in 1561.
Builders placed the first stone of the monastery on April 23, 1563. A year earlier, Philip II of Spain
Philip II of Spain
Philip II was King of Spain, Portugal, Naples, Sicily, and, while married to Mary I, King of England and Ireland. He was lord of the Seventeen Provinces from 1556 until 1581, holding various titles for the individual territories such as duke or count....
began efforts to acquire the land adjacent to the site of the future monastery, with the intention of creating a territory of realengo
Realengo
Realengo is a neighborhood in northern Rio de Janeiro. The lower and middle class neighborhood is between the Mendanha and Pedra Branca mountains...
, real site de El Escorial, intended for agriculture, fishing, hunting and recreational uses. Among them were the Dehesa of the ironworks of Fuentelámparas (today called La Herrería), located in the current term of San Lorenzo de El Escorial, and La Granjilla of the Fresneda, farms in the neighbouring village of El Escorial
El Escorial
The Royal Seat of San Lorenzo de El Escorial is a historical residence of the king of Spain, in the town of San Lorenzo de El Escorial, about 45 kilometres northwest of the capital, Madrid, in Spain. It is one of the Spanish royal sites and functions as a monastery, royal palace, museum, and...
.
Construction lasted 21 years, which transformed the urban and social environment of El Escorial. The hamlet became a villa in 1565. A Lord Mayor exercised rule over the villa. The Lord Mayor's authority did not extend to the game reserves that the Crown managed directly, nor to agricultural uses managed by the monastery's Prior.
Through two Papal Bulls issued dated 1585 and 1586, the Roman Catholic Church removed the monastery from the control of the powerful Archbishop of Toledo and placed it under the monastery's Prior.
This administrative structure remained well into the 18th century, when the monarch Carlos III
Charles III of Spain
Charles III was the King of Spain and the Spanish Indies from 1759 to 1788. He was the eldest son of Philip V of Spain and his second wife, the Princess Elisabeth Farnese...
imposed a new territorial and administrative framework. The construction of houses, expressly prohibited in the outskirts of the monastery, was the cause of a dispute that faced the municipal authorities, who promoted a modification of the rules, and those who sought to restrict new construction. The subject was particularly delicate in those days, given the frequent visits of the Royal family to the site; these visits led to an increase in demand for land to build houses and support buildings mainly for civil servants working in the Royal household.
The resolution of the conflict came from King Carlos III, who, on May 3, 1767, authorized housing next to the market of the monastery, which was the birth of the municipality of San Lorenzo de El Escorial and the beginning of a process which culminated in the emancipation of the town from El Escorial
El Escorial
The Royal Seat of San Lorenzo de El Escorial is a historical residence of the king of Spain, in the town of San Lorenzo de El Escorial, about 45 kilometres northwest of the capital, Madrid, in Spain. It is one of the Spanish royal sites and functions as a monastery, royal palace, museum, and...
. The development of this new Hamlet was very fast, reaching a population of more than a thousand only a few years afterCarlos III
Charles III of Spain
Charles III was the King of Spain and the Spanish Indies from 1759 to 1788. He was the eldest son of Philip V of Spain and his second wife, the Princess Elisabeth Farnese...
allowed the town's expansion.
The new settlement emerging at the foot of the monastery did not achieve self-rule until much later. The administrative structure designed by Philip II of Spain
Philip II of Spain
Philip II was King of Spain, Portugal, Naples, Sicily, and, while married to Mary I, King of England and Ireland. He was lord of the Seventeen Provinces from 1556 until 1581, holding various titles for the individual territories such as duke or count....
was blurring, first with the appointment of a Governor by Carlos III
Charles III of Spain
Charles III was the King of Spain and the Spanish Indies from 1759 to 1788. He was the eldest son of Philip V of Spain and his second wife, the Princess Elisabeth Farnese...
—detrimental to the powers of the Lord Mayor and El Escorial's Prior—and, subsequently, with the privatization of land.
This was key to the structural development of the current municipality of San Lorenzo de El Escorial, since thisprivatization extended over most of the royal lands except for the Herrería farms, land surrounding the monastery, the Príncipe and the Infante Casitas.
On September 26, 1836, San Lorenzo de El Escorial became an independent municipality. In 1887, it elected its first mayor. To date, 22 people have served in this role.
During the Spanish Civil Ward (1936–1939), the people remained loyal to the Republican government and briefly changed the town's name to El Escorial of the Sierra.
Today the city of San Lorenzo de El Escorial consists of 12 localities: Colmenar of the Arroyo, Colmenarejo
Colmenarejo
Colmenarejo is a town in Spain. It is located in the north of the Community of Madrid, near the town of Galapagar. It had a population of 8,567 in 2010..It hosts a campus of the Universidad Carlos III de Madrid.-External links:*...
, El Escorial
El Escorial
The Royal Seat of San Lorenzo de El Escorial is a historical residence of the king of Spain, in the town of San Lorenzo de El Escorial, about 45 kilometres northwest of the capital, Madrid, in Spain. It is one of the Spanish royal sites and functions as a monastery, royal palace, museum, and...
, Fresnedillas the olive, Navalagamella
Navalagamella
Navalagamella is a municipality of the Community of Madrid, Spain....
, Chavela Robledo, Saint Mary of the Alameda, Valdemaqueda
Valdemaqueda
Valdemaqueda is a municipality of the Community of Madrid, Spain....
, Valdemorillo
Valdemorillo
Valdemorillo is a municipality in the province and autonomous community of Madrid, Spain. It had a population of 7,860 in 2005....
, Villanueva of the pardillo and Zarzalejo
Zarzalejo
Zarzalejo is a village in the Community of Madrid in Sierra Oeste. It had 1,404 inhabitants in 2007....
, and the monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial.
Demography
San Lorenzo de El Escorial has 17,346 inhabitants, according to the National Institute of statistics (INE), data relating to 2008. It has a density of population of 118.75 inhabitants/square mi (307.55 inhabitants/km²), similar to other municipalities (case El EscorialEl Escorial
The Royal Seat of San Lorenzo de El Escorial is a historical residence of the king of Spain, in the town of San Lorenzo de El Escorial, about 45 kilometres northwest of the capital, Madrid, in Spain. It is one of the Spanish royal sites and functions as a monastery, royal palace, museum, and...
, with 83.47 inhabitants/square mi (216.18 inhabitants/km²) area, but much lower than the average regional (301.86 inhabitants/square mi (781.82 inhabitants/km²)). In relation to the Spanish average, located in the aforementioned 35.3 inhabitants/square mi (91.4 inhabitants/km²), year local exceeded the national datum.
As of 2006, 51.7% of San Lorentinos are women and the remaining 48.3% are men. Foreigners represent 10.07%. The average age is 37.8 years. The relative growth of the population is of 4.2%, according to statistics2006.
The transient population of San Lorenzo de El Escorial is very high. This is a major residential site; second homes proliferated with usage during weekends and vacation periods. In addition, the municipality receives daily large numbers of tourists attracted by its historical and natural heritage.
| 1996 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10,828 | 10,995 | 11,350 | 11,783 | 12,455 | 13,164 | 14,358 | 14,971 | 14,364 | 16,005 | 16,531 | 17,346 |
Note: 1996 figures are referring to May 1 and the other to January 1. Source: INE
Economy
Tourism, hospitality and trade are the main economic activities of San Lorenzo de El Escorial. The municipality is one of the most important tourist destinations in the community of Madrid. Visitors usually make day trips with MadridMadrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
tourism as a starting point. The number of tourists staying overnight are insignificant as in other historical cities in the region, such as Alcalá de Henares
Alcalá de Henares
Alcalá de Henares , meaning Citadel on the river Henares, is a Spanish city, whose historical centre is one of UNESCO's World Heritage Sites, and one of the first bishoprics founded in Spain...
, Aranjuez or Chinchón
Chinchón
Chinchón is a Spanish town 50 km southeast of Madrid. It is part of the Comarca de Las Vegas.-Overview:The Plaza Mayor is roughly circular, surrounded by 15th-17th century galleried houses and cafés and is used as a temporary bullring. The church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción was built in...
.
In recent years, the town has attempted to consolidate hotel tourism, trade fairs, conventions and cultural and educational nature courses. The Universidad Complutense holds summer courses to promote San Lorenzo de El Escorial as a Euroforum installations. The municipality has 10 hotels with a total of 611 rooms (year 2006).
Inside of this municipality are two of the most visited monuments in the nation national. The Monastery of El Escorial is the second most visited monument with highest number of visits (504,238 tourists 2004), short of the Royal Palace in Madrid (720,710 in the same year). The Valley of the Fallen, located on the outskirts of town, is the third in the national list (407,578).
Construction is another economic activity on the rise in San Lorenzo de El Escorial. Although much of its area is protected, as with the Herrería forests, the town has experienced strong urban growth in recent years, with the creation of new housing developments in areas that lack legal protection from development. This is the case of the southeastern slope of Mount Abantos
Mount Abantos
Mount Abantos is a mountain in the Sierra de Guadarrama range in the Sistema Central of Spain, a chain that runs from east to west. For the most part, the mountain is located in the municipality of San Lorenzo de El Escorial in the Community of Madrid, with part of its west side in the province of...
, which has many newly constructed neighbourhoods, especially after the August 21, 1999, fire that burned 450 acres (1.8 km²) of pine.
Main sights
Part of the monument is listed with the heritage
World Heritage Site
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...
UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
. In addition, this site has been awarded good of cultural interest, in the category of historical sites, with the name of "Escorial: monastery, natural and cultural environment", from the community of Madrid.
The last legal figure, approved by Decree 52/2006 (June 21), also includes the towns of El Escorial
El Escorial
The Royal Seat of San Lorenzo de El Escorial is a historical residence of the king of Spain, in the town of San Lorenzo de El Escorial, about 45 kilometres northwest of the capital, Madrid, in Spain. It is one of the Spanish royal sites and functions as a monastery, royal palace, museum, and...
, Zarzalejo
Zarzalejo
Zarzalejo is a village in the Community of Madrid in Sierra Oeste. It had 1,404 inhabitants in 2007....
and Saint Mary of the Alameda. This is the area which was within the so-called domain of Philip II, with which the monarch delineated the perimeter of the royal site in the area around the Monasterio.
World Heritage sites
On November 2, 1984, together with the celebration of the IV centenary of the placement of the last stone during the monastery's construction, the World Heritage Committee (World Heritage Committee) of the UNESCOUNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
, meeting in Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
), included "El Escurial, monastery and site" on the list of the heritage
World Heritage Site
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...
(World Heritage List).
This entry defines territorial protection for the Monasterio de El Escorial, the Casita of Infante (or up) and the Casita del Principe (or down), Palace, El Escorial
El Escorial
The Royal Seat of San Lorenzo de El Escorial is a historical residence of the king of Spain, in the town of San Lorenzo de El Escorial, about 45 kilometres northwest of the capital, Madrid, in Spain. It is one of the Spanish royal sites and functions as a monastery, royal palace, museum, and...
: * "' Monasterio de El Escorial" '. This building, one of the main monuments renacentistas
Renacimiento
Renacimiento is a Sector in the city of Santo Domingo in the Distrito Nacional of the Dominican Republic....
Spain, was erected in the last third of the 16th century on the mount Abantos
Mount Abantos
Mount Abantos is a mountain in the Sierra de Guadarrama range in the Sistema Central of Spain, a chain that runs from east to west. For the most part, the mountain is located in the municipality of San Lorenzo de El Escorial in the Community of Madrid, with part of its west side in the province of...
, slope 3,373 ft (1,028 m). Juan Bautista de Toledo
Juan Bautista de Toledo
Juan Bautista de Toledo. Spanish architect educated in Italy, in the Italian High Renaissance. As many Italian renaissance architects, he had experience in both architecture and military and civil public works. Born, either in Toledo or in Madrid around 1515. Died May 19, 1567 in Madrid...
, originated the project that was finished, after his death, by Juan de Herrera
Juan de Herrera
Juan de Herrera was a Spanish architect, mathematician and geometrician.One of the most outstanding Spanish architects in the 16th century, Herrera represents the peak of the Renaissance in Spain. His sober style was fully developed in buildings like the Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial...
, who imposed a new architectural style. Occupies an area of 358,729 square feet (33,327 square meters) and has 16 patios, 88 sources, 13 oratorios, 15 Cloisters, 86 stairs, 9 towers, 1,200 doors and 2,673 Windows. Its main façade is 679 feet (207 m) in length. The most important parts of the building, include the Pantheon of Kings, the Real Basilica and Real library. From the sixteenth, the Escorial monastery has been described as "the eighth wonder of the world".
The Príncipe and the Infante cottages are two mansions neoclásicos 18th century. Both were built by Villanueva John as recreation sites for Carlos IV, then Prince of Asturias, and his brother Infante Bourbon Gabriel, respectively.
The territorial scope of protection laid down in the list of the heritage
World Heritage Site
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...
is currently in the process of being enlargement. The Spanish authorities intend to extend the UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
heritage
World Heritage Site
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...
declaration to all the space that was included within the original decree of Philip II.
Historical site
The municipality of San Lorenzo de El Escorial and other historical-artistic group have been incorporated into the legal figure of the historical territory (historical site) of "El Escorial: monastery, site and natural and cultural environment", according to Decree 52/2006 (June 21 BOCM) community of Madrid.Here are different buildings and natural enclaves located within its Township and other located El Escorial
El Escorial
The Royal Seat of San Lorenzo de El Escorial is a historical residence of the king of Spain, in the town of San Lorenzo de El Escorial, about 45 kilometres northwest of the capital, Madrid, in Spain. It is one of the Spanish royal sites and functions as a monastery, royal palace, museum, and...
, Zarzalejo
Zarzalejo
Zarzalejo is a village in the Community of Madrid in Sierra Oeste. It had 1,404 inhabitants in 2007....
and Saint Mary of the Alameda. Monumental sets and landscape sanlorentinos are highlighted below:
- "Chair Philip II", where, according to legend, sat the monarch to view the progress of the works of the monastery, although it is believed that, in fact, was a vettonesVettonesThe Vettones were one of the pre-Roman Celtic peoples of the Iberian Peninsula .- Origins :...
offerings altar. - "' The Herrería" ', historic farm, formerly known as the Dehesa of the Fuentelámparas ironworks, possessing great ecological interest. It is populated by forests fresnos and OaksOaks-Horse races:"Oaks" is generally used to describe a Thoroughbred horse race restricted to 3-year-old fillies. Among the best-known races using the term are:*Epsom Oaks, The Oaks Stakes, at Epsom Downs Racecourse, Surrey, England; the original "Oaks" race...
. - "' Del Castañar" ', historic farm with important environmental attractions.
- "' Park of the Casita" '. Parks and gardens built in this neoclassicalNeoclassicismNeoclassicism is the name given to Western movements in the decorative and visual arts, literature, theatre, music, and architecture that draw inspiration from the "classical" art and culture of Ancient Greece or Ancient Rome...
Stupinigi environment are shared between the municipalities of El EscorialEl EscorialThe Royal Seat of San Lorenzo de El Escorial is a historical residence of the king of Spain, in the town of San Lorenzo de El Escorial, about 45 kilometres northwest of the capital, Madrid, in Spain. It is one of the Spanish royal sites and functions as a monastery, royal palace, museum, and...
and San Lorenzo de El Escorial. Not building, which is in the first place. - "' Houses of offices" '. The first two were built by Juan de HerreraJuan de HerreraJuan de Herrera was a Spanish architect, mathematician and geometrician.One of the most outstanding Spanish architects in the 16th century, Herrera represents the peak of the Renaissance in Spain. His sober style was fully developed in buildings like the Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial...
16th century and the third, Villanueva John work data 18th century. Currently are home to a small church and different facilities managed by the Town Council of San Lorenzo de El Escorial. This is the case of the House of culture of the municipal library, the tourist office, the Conservatory professional of music father Soler and the Royal Centre for integrated music and training in plastic and artistic. Furthermore, the first House of offices is provisional headquarters of the Instituto de Estudios Herrerianos, which will host the legacy of the architect and investigator Luis Cervera Vera. - "' Infantes houses" '. Due to Juan de VillanuevaJuan de VillanuevaJuan de Villanueva was a Spanish architect. Alongside Ventura Rodríguez, Villanueva is the best known architect of Spanish Neoclassicism....
, who rose up in 18th century. - "' Real Colosseum of Carlos III" ', built in 18th century, popularly known as the Bombonera theatre.
- "' The company home" '. Drawn on 16th century by Mora Francisco today serves as headquarters to University Maria Cristina.
- "' Valley of the fallen" '. By extension, is included within the historical territory of the "El Escorial: monastery, site and natural and cultural environment" This funeral monument 20th century. Built on the initiative of the dictator of Francisco FrancoFrancisco FrancoFrancisco Franco y Bahamonde was a Spanish general, dictator and head of state of Spain from October 1936 , and de facto regent of the nominally restored Kingdom of Spain from 1947 until his death in November, 1975...
, is perched on the Risco of Nava 4.56 ft (1.39) m altitude, in the place known as Cuelgamuros. A 490 ft (150 m) cross chairs the monumental, consisting of a Basilica carved on stone, a AbbeyAbbeyAn abbey is a Catholic monastery or convent, under the authority of an Abbot or an Abbess, who serves as the spiritual father or mother of the community.The term can also refer to an establishment which has long ceased to function as an abbey,...
, and an Inn. Their artistic values, include the sculptures of the evangelists by D'avalos John with a size 59 ft (18 m), situated at the base of the cross.
Celebrities
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
September 29, 1833.
The presence of the Kings attracted towards the municipality different personalities from the world of culture and the arts. Apart from the long list of architects, sculptors and painters who participated in the 16th century in the Monasterio de El Escorial, building the population hosted in 18th century the Girona musician Antonio Soler (Olot
Olot
Olot is the capital of the comarca of the Garrotxa, in the province of Girona, Catalonia, Spain.- Etymology :The etymology of Olot is not clear and there are several hypotheses...
, 1729), who died in San Lorenzo of El Escorial in 1783, where he developed most of his career.
In the 19th and 20th centuries, the town became a residential kernel, which went relevant political and cultural figures. Including highlighted the Serafín Alvarez and Joaquin Álvarez Quintero
Quintero
Quintero is a Chilean city and commune in Valparaíso Province, Valparaíso Region. The commune spans an area of .-History:The name of the city comes from Alonso Quintero, the Spanish navigator who discovered the bay in 1536 when he arrived on the ship Santiaguillo.-Demographics:According to the 2002...
, comediógrafos who lived temporarily in the municipality.
Between children born in San Lorenzo de El Escorial in 20th century, protrude poet Luis Felipe Vivanco (1907–1975), the architect John Herreros (1958) and the botanist Luis Ceballos and Fernández de Córdoba (1896–1967).
Festivals and traditions
The people of San Lorenzo hold their feasts on August 10, the day of the feast of San Lorenzo Lorenzo mártir, the saint to which Philip II of SpainPhilip II of Spain
Philip II was King of Spain, Portugal, Naples, Sicily, and, while married to Mary I, King of England and Ireland. He was lord of the Seventeen Provinces from 1556 until 1581, holding various titles for the individual territories such as duke or count....
dedicated the Monasterio de El Escorial to and that, by extension, the municipality takes its name. This building was built to commemorate the victory of the battle of San Quintín, which took place on August 10, 1557.
The pilgrimage of Our Lady, Virgin of Grace is without a doubt the most important tradition of San Lorenzo de El Escorial. It occurs at the beginning of September among the religious masses in Spain. Since 1948 it has been declared tourist attractions by the community of Madrid.
Holy week
Holy Week
Holy Week in Christianity is the last week of Lent and the week before Easter...
in San Lorenzo stands out as one of the of great visual richnesses of the Guadarrameña region. At Christmastime, large crowds take to the streets to commemorate the Bethlehem
Bethlehem
Bethlehem is a Palestinian city in the central West Bank of the Jordan River, near Israel and approximately south of Jerusalem, with a population of about 30,000 people. It is the capital of the Bethlehem Governorate of the Palestinian National Authority and a hub of Palestinian culture and tourism...
nativity scene where Christ was born.
Education
There are 5 crèches (2 public and 3 private), 2 public schools education primary, 1 Institute of secondary education, 3 schools private (with and without concert) in San Lorenzo de El Escorial, 1 Center overseas and 1 University Centre attached to the Complutense University (University Maria Cristina).See also
- Sierra de GuadarramaSierra de GuadarramaThe Sierra de Guadarrama is a mountain range forming the main eastern section of the Sistema Central, the system of mountain ranges at the centre of the Iberian Peninsula. It is located between the Sierra de Gredos in the province of Ávila, and Sierra de Ayllón in the province of Guadalajara...
- El EscorialEl EscorialThe Royal Seat of San Lorenzo de El Escorial is a historical residence of the king of Spain, in the town of San Lorenzo de El Escorial, about 45 kilometres northwest of the capital, Madrid, in Spain. It is one of the Spanish royal sites and functions as a monastery, royal palace, museum, and...
monastery - Valley of the Fallen
Statistical
- Institute of statistics of the community of Madrid > municipal tab (Spanish)
- Institute of statistics of the community of Madrid > Municipal statistical series