This trip was with my program, to El Escorial and Valle de los caidos. This picture is of El Escorial. It is a monestary/palace/cathedral/school. It was built by one of the kings, and the purpose was for the king and monks to live there, but the kings lived like monks and the monks lived like kings. I can't remember which king it was but he was a particularly religious king and had his bedroom built next to the catheral with an adjoining door so that he could hear the mass in bed. (he was old and sick and couldn't get out of bed) This building was built in the shape of an upsidedown grill, with the idea of and upsidedown life for those who live there. It is an incredibly huge building, which is why I could only take a picture of the corner. We couldn't take pictures inside, but it was cool. Most of the Kings and Queens of Spain are buried in the basement along with other members of the royal family of the past.
This is a view from the inner courtyard. El Escorial also has one of the oldest libraries in Europe, with some of the first books ever written in Arabic and Hebrew and Greek. It has manuscripts similar to the ones that were lost in the library at Alexadria. So it is very famous. There are even books there that were forbidden during the Spanish Inquisition and still survived.
This is Valle de los caidos. Translated, it means the valley of the fallen. It is supposed to be a war memorial to the people who fought and died in the spanish civil war, but it was built by Fransisco Franco and he made it more of a memorial to himself than anyone else. He used prisoners of war as slaves to build this memorial, which goes under the mountain into a huge cave with a cathedral and hallway. It also has the graves of Franco and his first General. This is a very controversial monument because many people don't want it to be open to the public because it was built under Franco's orders and by prisoners. It is still an interesting part of history and interestingly enough, people actually have weddings here. I wouldn't want my wedding in a cave with Franco's grave, but whatever.
This is me and my roommates by the monument entrance. As you can see, it is massive. The inside is incredible with huge tapestries and beautiful stonework. We also couldn't take pictures inside, but believe me that it was cool. You have to go there to see it for yourself if you really want to know. :)
This trip was with my program, to El Escorial and Valle de los caidos. This picture is of El Escorial. It is a monestary/palace/cathedral/school. It was built by one of the kings, and the purpose was for the king and monks to live there, but the kings lived like monks and the monks lived like kings. I can't remember which king it was but he was a particularly religious king and had his bedroom built next to the catheral with an adjoining door so that he could hear the mass in bed. (he was old and sick and couldn't get out of bed) This building was built in the shape of an upsidedown grill, with the idea of and upsidedown life for those who live there. It is an incredibly huge building, which is why I could only take a picture of the corner. We couldn't take pictures inside, but it was cool. Most of the Kings and Queens of Spain are buried in the basement along with other members of the royal family of the past. 
This is a view from the inner courtyard. El Escorial also has one of the oldest libraries in Europe, with some of the first books ever written in Arabic and Hebrew and Greek. It has manuscripts similar to the ones that were lost in the library at Alexadria. So it is very famous. There are even books there that were forbidden during the Spanish Inquisition and still survived. 
This is Valle de los caidos. Translated, it means the valley of the fallen. It is supposed to be a war memorial to the people who fought and died in the spanish civil war, but it was built by Fransisco Franco and he made it more of a memorial to himself than anyone else. He used prisoners of war as slaves to build this memorial, which goes under the mountain into a huge cave with a cathedral and hallway. It also has the graves of Franco and his first General. This is a very controversial monument because many people don't want it to be open to the public because it was built under Franco's orders and by prisoners. It is still an interesting part of history and interestingly enough, people actually have weddings here. I wouldn't want my wedding in a cave with Franco's grave, but whatever. 
1 comment:
I went here when I was in Spain. Definitely has the WOW factor doesn't it!
Sweet blessings!
Renee
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