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Guide to Madrid<br />
7<br />
Last Supper<br />
Venetian artist Titian undertook numerous<br />
commissions for El Escorial. Unfortunately this canvas<br />
was too big to fit the space assigned to it in the monks’<br />
refectory and was literally cut down to size.<br />
8<br />
Inlay Doors<br />
One of the most striking features of the king’s<br />
apartments is the superb marquetry of the inlay doors.<br />
Made by German craftsmen in the 16th century, they<br />
were a gift from Emperor Maximilian II.<br />
9<br />
King’s Treasures<br />
A cupboard in the royal bedchamber contains more<br />
than a dozen priceless objets d’art . They include a<br />
12th-century chest made in Limoges and a 16th-century<br />
“peace plate” by Spanish craftsman Luís de Castillo.<br />
10<br />
Queen’s Room Organ<br />
The corridors of El Escorial would have resounded<br />
to monastic plainchant but the organ also met with royal<br />
approval. This rare hand organ dates from the 16th<br />
century and is decorated with Felipe II’s coat of arms.<br />
Top 10 El Escorial Statistics<br />
2,673 windows<br />
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1,200 doors<br />
300 monastic cells<br />
88 fountains<br />
86 stairways<br />
73 statues<br />
42 chapels (basílica)<br />
16 courtyards<br />
14 entrance halls<br />
80,000 visitors a year<br />
traveldk.com<br />
El Escorial<br />
Practical information<br />
• San Lorenzo del Escorial<br />
• Train from Atocha or Chamartín, then bus from<br />
the station<br />
• 91 890 5904<br />
• www.patrimonionacional.es<br />
• Open Apr–Sep: 10am–6pm Tue–Sun; Oct–Mar:<br />
10am–5pm Tue–Sun; Closed Mon, 1 Jan, 6 Jan, 1<br />
May, 10 Aug, 8 Sep, 24 Dec, 25 Dec, 31 Dec<br />
• Adm €9.00 (except Wed for EU citizens)<br />
Top tips<br />
• San Lorenzo del Escorial has a good selection of<br />
bars and restaurants.<br />
• To escape the worst of the queues, arrive before<br />
midday and avoid Wednesdays, when admission<br />
to the palace is free.<br />
Felipe II’s Vision<br />
Before architect Juán Bautista de Toledo was<br />
allowed to embark on El Escorial, Felipe gave him<br />
precise instructions. He should aim for “simplicity<br />
in the construction, severity in the whole, nobility<br />
without arrogance, majesty without ostentation.”<br />
When Toledo died in 1577, his successor, Juan de<br />
Herrera, followed Felipe’s precepts. The design<br />
was intended to resemble the iron grid on which<br />
St Laurence was roasted alive.<br />
14<br />
Sights to See
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