Real Monasterio de San Lorenzo de El Escorial
A UNESCO World Heritage site and one of Spain's most visited landmarks, the imposing El Escorial palace complex was commissioned by Felipe II after the death of his father in the 1500s and remains the most complete and impressive monument of the later Renaissance in Spain. The monastery was built as an eternal memorial for his relatives, and the crypt here is the resting place of the majority of Spain's kings, from Carlos V to Alfonso XIII. A fantasy land of gilded halls, hand-painted chambers, and manicured French gardens, the gargantuan royal residence also houses an important collection of paintings by Renaissance and baroque artists donated by the crown. The library alone is worth the entry fee—its vibrant frescoes and leather-bound tomes spur the imagination.
