valley of the fallen
historical artistic ensemble
 
monastery
other buildings
Virtual Walks through the Town
A stroll through the 16th century

Opposite the Tourist Information Office-Interpretation Centre, we find the Monastery, Monasterio de San Lorenzo de El Escorial (1), bordered by a levelled area, a stone esplanade known as the Lonja (2).

If we continue to the right, following the main facade of the Monastery, we go under an archway, the Arco de la Compaña (3). To the left, we can enjoy the view of the Friars' Garden, Jardín de los Frailes (4), the pond, el estanque (5), the Friars' Kitchen Garden, la Huerta de los Frailes (6) and the Herrería Meadows, Dehesa de la Herrería (7).

At one end of the south-facing facade of the Monastery is the Gallery of Convalescents, Galería de convalecientes (8), conceived as an independent structure to enable patients to be in isolation, which it was designed for.

In the upper part of the kitchen garden and orchards, we find the Cachicanía (9) or gardener's cottage, the dwelling of the person who looked after this beautiful corner of the estate. Built in around 1564 and with some remodelling work by Francisco de Mora in 1596, it is a square building, with a slate roof, where tools, implements and firewood were also stored.

Map of the walk trough the 16th century
Photographs
Monasterio
Monasterio
Monasterio
Dehesas
Galería
Herrería
Casa de la Compaña
Casa del barrio El Plantel
Casa del barrio El Plantel
(1) (2) (4) (7) (8) (7) (10) (11) (11)
Casa del barrio El Plantel
Casa del barrio El Plantel
Casa del barrio El Plantel
Casa del barrio El Plantel
Casa de las Pizarras
Casa de las Pizarras
Casa de los Doctores
Casa de Oficios
 
(11) (11) (11) (11) (13) (13) (14) (15)  
Vídeos
     
Panoramic view
Parque Carrero Blanco
 
Primera Casa de Oficios
 
360º desde La Herrería, al fondo el Monasterio
     

Leaving the grounds of the Monastery, we now walk in the direction of the Paseo de los Alamillos, coming upon, on the right, one of the most important buildings of its time: the Company Quarters, or Casa de la Compaña (10), currently the María Cristina Royal University College, or Real Centro Universitario Escorial-María Cristina.

If we continue along the main facade of this building, we come to the street called calle Leandro Rubio, main road of the beautiful neighbourhood of El Plantel (11), which was given the name of the plantation of trees that Felipe II had ordered created, containing species such as ilex, chestnuts, oaks and hazel trees.

Having reached the end of calle Leandro Rubio and after turning into Floridablanca, we find on our left the building known as Casa de Jacometrezo (12), the oldest in the area. This stone construction dates from the beginning of the Monastery works. Located just on the edge of el Plantel, it would later be the residence of the Italian sculptor, Jacomo da Trezzo, which gave it the name with which it has reached our days.

Continuing down calle Floridablanca, on the right we can see some attractive ruins covered in vegetation which climbs up the enormous chimneystacks that remained outside what was the House of the Slates, Casa de las Pizarras (13), located in the vertex of the lonja. This was the residence for the doorman of the King's kitchen, the servants and the maker of esparto articles of the friary.

Continuing a little further until we are parallel to the square, the Plaza de la Constitución, if we look to the left and slightly upwards above street level, we can see the Professors' House, Casa de los Doctores (14).

Progressing along calle Floridablanca, on the right and separated by the street calle Grimaldi, we can see the First and Second House of Trades, Primera y Segunda Casa de Oficios (15 and 16), where we end our stroll.

 
DOWNLOAD A STROLL THROUGH THE 16th CENTURY (.pdf in Spanish)
Get Adobe Reader
 
Back to Home
 
Back one page
 
Send e-mail
 
Print page
 
Cultural Agenda
 
Web optimised for a screen resolution of 800x600 pixels