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Location: Paseo de Juan de Borbón y Battenberg s/n.

Traditionally, its construction was attributed to a promise by Felipe II in compensation for a church dedicated to San Lorenzo having been destroyed during the battle of San Quintin.

However, the Founding and Endowment Charter states that the motives that originated this marvellous building were those of: expressingperpetual gratitude for the benefits received from God; guaranteeing the eternal memory of the Royal Family, and founding a Royal Mausoleum for the relatives of the king Felipe II. Motivations in which the nature of a profoundly religious King, the death of his father Carlos V (1558) and the need to affirm the Austrian line in Spain had an influence.

The construction, begun by Juan Bautista de Toledo in 1563 was finished by his disciple Juan de Herrera in 1584. The latter transmitted his particular architectonic seal, called the Herrerian style, characterised by the starring role of the line compared to the abuse of decorative elements that distract from contemplation.

The building is located in the foothills of mountAbantos, at 1028 metres of altitude. It is found framed in a rectangle with a surface of approximately 33,327 square metres. It has 16 patios, 88 fountains, 13 oratories, 15 cloisters, 86 stairways, 9 towers, 1,200 doors and 2673 windows. The main entrance is on the west side which, with a length of 207 metres, is oriented towards mountAbantos.