Escorial, El

The El Escorial monastery and palace in Sierra de Guadarrama, Spain was built in 1563-84. It became the centre of the Spanish Empire ruled by Philip II.

Monastery and palace standing over 900 m/2,953 ft above sea level on a southeastern slope of the Sierra de Guadarrama, 42 km/26 mi northwest of Madrid, Spain. El Escorial was built (1563-84) for Philip II. It was designed by Juan Bautista de Toledo (assistant to Michelangelo at St Peter's, Rome (1546-48)) and Juan de Herrera (c. 1530-97).

It was dedicated to St Lawrence, on whose day in 1557 the Spaniards defeated Henry II of France at St Quentin. The immense structure, built of granite and measuring 207 m/679 ft by 161 m/528 ft, is shaped to resemble the gridiron on which St Lawrence was martyred.

This austere monastery-cum-palace became the favoured dwelling of Philip II. It was here that he gathred together his collection of paintings (including, in particular, works by Hieronymus Bosch and El Greco.