Private El Escorial & Valley Of The Fallen from Madrid

The Royal Site of San Lorenzo de El Escorial is located less than an hour drive from Madrid. Built over 500 years ago it has occupied many important roles throughout the Centuries and continues to do so up until the present moment. Accompanied by a very knowledgeable official private guide we will wander through its gardens, galleries, and halls, discovering its interesting history as the residence of the Spanish monarchy, the burial site for kings and queens, a monastery and an important museum. The architecture of the complex is admirable as well and is considered one of the best example of Spanish Renaissance. From here we will take our van for about 15 minutes to drive up into the mountains north of El Escorial. We will arrive at the Valley of the Fallen, a controversial memorial site for those fallen during the Spanish Civil war, and at the same time a mausoleum of the fascist dictator Francisco Franco. A massive, 500 feet tall stone cross overlooks the basilica. Our private official guide will take us around the site and make sure we won’t miss a thing. Following this intense experience, we will take a short drive to a typical Spanish restaurant, and share our thoughts over a delicious three-course meal.