El Escorial and Valley of the Fallen

*** PLEASE NOTE: The Valley of the Fallen is currently closed to renovation - it is unknown at this time when the site will re-open.  This tour will now spend more time at El Escorial, visiting additional wings in the complex.

Experience the awesome El Escorial monastery on a guided half-day tour from Madrid. Afterwards, visit the Valley of the Fallen monument erected at the side of a mountain in memory of the millions who died in the Spanish Civil War.

EL ESCORIAL: Considered the eighth wonder of the world for a long period of time and currently a world heritage site. The Royal Monastery of San Lorenzo El Real was built by King Philip the Second. The austere Renaissance complex combines a palace and monastery, and features a wonderful collection of art. On your visit, an experienced guide will take you for a tour of the complex, including the Hapsburgs Palace, Kings and Princes Mausoleum, Chapter Houses and the Basilica.

VALLE DE LOS CAIDOS (Valley of the Fallen): This enormous monument was built between 1940 and 1959 to honor the Spaniards killed during the civil War. It is a Basilica excavated in the mountain at 1350m above sea level where an impressive 150m high cross places itself over the magnificent nature reserve of Madrid's mountain range. The monument was built by the Spanish dictator General Franco and it is said thousands of prisoners were killed during its construction. You will take a guided tour inside the basilica, and admire the spectacular valley landscape surrounding the complex.

At the end of the tour we return to Plaza de Espana in the center of Madrid.