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Escorial Monastery

San Lorenzo de El Escorial, Madrid

Audioguide of the Escorial Monastery

What to see in the Escorial Monastery

As much as we tell you about El Escorial; we will always fall short. Because this impressive place, even with its global fame and all, is unknown to the general public. The same could be said of his promoter, Philip II, one of the most powerful men in history and whose image has come to us weighed down by the “black legend” which leaves him as a plain man, blessed and dominated by religious fanaticism.

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As much as we tell you about El Escorial; we will always fall short. Because this impressive place, even with its global fame and all, is unknown to the general public. The same could be said of his promoter, Philip II, one of the most powerful men in history and whose image has come to us weighed down by the “black legend” which leaves him as a plain man, blessed and dominated by religious fanaticism.

In fact, this monarch, who always wore black, had a huge culture to add to his attraction for esotericism, forbidden knowledge and all sorts of witchcraft. And that’s the reason why the colossal work was erected in the Sierra de Guadarrama, which we advise you to look at from the top, where the so-called Silla de Felipe II is. This way you can appreciate the magnitude of this enormous building dedicated to the victory in San Quintin, and which grill shape is explained because the battle took place on Saint Lawrence’s day who died burned on such utensil more associated to cook sausages and sardines.

But this great Renaissance monastery was not built here by chance. On the contrary, the study of its location, in which it is said that powerful telluric forces converge, was a matter of essential importance.

An ancient medieval legend told that the Devil, after touring the surface of the planet returned to Tartarus. But not before leaving seven doors open which connected both worlds. And it is said that Philip II, surrounded by alchemists, monks and wise men, wanted to locate one of those doors to close it. It would not be, then, a coincidence, that both Arias Montano and Juan de Herrera, the two characters who gave the final trace to the Escorial, were among the most versed in necromancy and occult sciences.

So what was built here between 1563 and 1584 is more than a commemoration of a military victory. In the thousands of halls and corridors of the palace, among its tombs of ancient and powerful kings, symbols and hidden messages were introduced, which go unnoticed to the visitors. If you find it hard to believe, visit the Botica Tower, where the King order to gather the largest witchcraft, alchemy and necromancy library of the time, and where he studied this subjects carefully.

When he wasn’t studying, the enigmatic King dispatched matters of state and prayed. And that’s precisely why to pray better and more, he opened a window in his room through which he could see and hear the mass from his bed, an idea he copied from his father, Emperor Charles V.

And now, if you have already absorbed everything we just told you, it is time to go through that door, have your eyes wide open and slowly examine every corner of this monumental mysterious building…


Escorial Monastery

Avda. Juan de Borbón y Battemberg, s/n
28200 San Lorenzo de El Escorial
(+34) 918 90 50 11

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