national park
Sierra de Guadarrama National Park
Granite peaks and pine forests north of Madrid, with the Puerto de Navacerrada pass beloved by drivers and skiers.
26 km · about 30 min drive
Madrid, Spain · Europe
San Lorenzo de El Escorial is worth a stop: 10 minutes from Zarzalejo, 26km from Sierra de Guadarrama National Park.
San Lorenzo de El Escorial is a town located in Madrid, Spain. With a population of 17,889, it is an important destination in Europe.
On a road trip, San Lorenzo de El Escorial sits in Spain, where you drive on the right. It's in the Europe/Madrid time zone. Below you'll find where to stay, things to do nearby, and everything you need to add San Lorenzo de El Escorial to your route.
San Lorenzo de El Escorial, also known as El Escorial de Arriba, is a town and municipality in the Community of Madrid, Spain, located to the northwest of the region in the southeastern side of the Sierra de Guadarrama, at the foot of Mount Abantos and Las Machotas, 47 kilometres (29 mi) from Madrid. It is head of theRead more
eponymous judicial party. The settlement is popularly called El Escorial de Arriba, to differentiate it from the neighbouring village of El Escorial, also known as El Escorial de Abajo.
The Monastery of El Escorial is the most prominent building in the town and is one of the main Spanish Renaissance monuments. Especially remarkable is the Royal Library, inside the Monastery.
The monastery and its historic surroundings were declared a World Heritage Site UNESCO on November 2, 1984, under the name of "El Escorial, monastery and site".
The site also enjoys protection on Spain's heritage register; since June 21, 2006, it has been protected by the Community of Madrid as a Property of Cultural Interest.
San Lorenzo de El Escorial is located on the southern slopes of the Mount Abantos (elevation 1753 m). The average altitude of the municipality is 1,032 metres (3,386 ft), and most of the urban area is above 1,000 metres (3,300 ft). The hamlet initially sprang up around Monastery of El Escorial, gradually extending up the mountain. In the 20th and 21st centuries, the town underwent a strong urban expansion, particularly towards the southeastern side of Mount Abantos.
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San Lorenzo de El Escorial offers many attractions including tourist sites, museums, parks, and local restaurants. Explore famous landmarks, scenic roads, and natural wonders on our interactive map and plan your visit.
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San Lorenzo de El Escorial is located in Madrid, Spain, Europe. The coordinates are 40.5914 latitude, -4.1474 longitude.
San Lorenzo de El Escorial has a population of approximately 17,889 people, making it a town in Spain.
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Essential numbers in Spain
Guardia Civil (traffic police): 062. Two warning triangles required in vehicles.
Full driving guide for Spain8 notable places within an hour's drive.
national park
Granite peaks and pine forests north of Madrid, with the Puerto de Navacerrada pass beloved by drivers and skiers.
26 km · about 30 min drive
ancient ruins
A stupendous Roman aqueduct with 167 arches of unmortared granite blocks, standing perfectly after nearly 2,000 years.
40 km · about 45 min drive
landmark
Fairy-tale medieval castle perched on a rocky crag that inspired the design of Disney's Cinderella Castle.
40 km · about 45 min drive
landmark
Largest functioning royal palace in Europe with over 3,400 rooms, the official residence of the Spanish royal family.
41 km · about 50 min drive
landmark
Grand 17th-century rectangular plaza in central Madrid surrounded by three-storey residential buildings with 237 balconies.
42 km · about 50 min drive
museum
Spain's national museum of 20th-century art, home to Picasso's monumental anti-war painting Guernica.
43 km · about 50 min drive
museum
Spain's premier art museum with an unrivaled collection of European art, including masterworks by Velázquez, Goya, and El Greco.
43 km · about 50 min drive
landmark
The most complete and best-preserved medieval city walls in Europe, encircling the old city with 88 towers and 2,500 meters of battlements.
47 km · about 55 min drive
April to October
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