Escorial Monastery & Valley of the Fallen Tour
About this activity
Highlights
- Explore the historic El Escorial Monastery
- Marvel at the monumental Valley of the Fallen
- Enjoy scenic views of the Spanish countryside
- Learn about Spain's rich history and architecture
- Experience a comfortable round-trip journey from Madrid
Full description
Included / Excluded
- Guided tour of El Escorial Monastery
- Visit to the Valley of the Fallen monument
- Round-trip transportation from Madrid
- Meals and beverages
Itinerary
Valley of the Fallen is a Francoist regime monument, Catholic basilica and a monumental memorial in the municipality of San Lorenzo de El Escorial, erected at Cuelgamuros Valley in the Sierra de Guadarrama, near Madrid. Franco claimed that the monument was meant to be a "national act of atonement" and reconciliation. The construction works mainly involved free workers and a smaller, albeit significant, percentage of prisoners, these between 1942 and 1950, under the regime of redemption of sentences.
San Lorenzo de El Escorial, also known as El Escorial de Arriba is a town and municipality in the Community of Madrid, Spain, located to the northwest of the region in the southeastern side of the Sierra de Guadarrama, at the foot of Mount Abantos and Las Machotas, 47 kilometres (29 mi) from Madrid. 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, also known as El Escorial de Abajo. Felipe II ordered the construction of this Monastery in recognition of the victory of San Quintín, which took place on the day of San Lorenzo in 1557 and is from the King, to erect a mausoleum in memory of his parents and himself, placed under the invocation of Saint Lawrence.
Meeting point
Start Location
Unknown location
Important information
Know before you book
- Confirm the tour's departure time and location upon booking.
- Be aware that the tour operates in English; ensure you understand the language.
- Note that the tour includes walking; consider your comfort with walking tours.
Know before you go
- Wear comfortable walking shoes for the tour.
- Bring a camera to capture the stunning architecture and landscapes.
- Check the weather forecast and dress accordingly.
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Accessibility
- Infant Seats Available
- Stroller Accessible
- Easy Public Transport
Good to know
- May be operated by a multi-lingual guide
- Dress code is smart casual
- Headphones available for radio guide
Traveler reviews
Important History & Relaxing Day
David and Eugenio were both excellent. The day went very smoothly, from the quick and efficient check in to the relaxing bus ride to the interesting site tours. David made the long and complex history behind the two sites simple, interesting, and easy to digest. I had a nice day and would consider doing another tour with them in the future.
Great experience
David was an excellent guide, and the tour was very well organized.
A must see
The pickup was very easy. The tour was spectacular: Isabel always let us know what to expect, encouraged us, and had good laughs with us. Ferdinand was a very good driver, fast and safe.
The Escorial
It was a very good experience; it was a walk we wanted to take, and it was excellent. Isabel, our guide, was fantastic, providing very good information and making everything enjoyable the entire time. Fernando, the driver, was very professional. Totally recommended.
The Escorial is fabulous!
The Escorial is a hidden gem; its library, monastery, palaces, and pantheon are a marvel, with many paintings on the walls and ceilings, as well as gold figures in the summer. The Escorial is a demonstration of the fine taste of centuries of the Spanish monarchy. I did not like the bilingual model of the tour; if you can book one in just one language, it would be better. The guide switched languages every two sentences without difficulty and with great dedication, which serves everyone, but it was hard for me to maintain attention to the history of the place.