El Escorial is just 47 km outside of Madrid and one of the highlights of central spain. It's a small city but it contains the 16th-century Royal Monastery of El Escorial which was built as a summer retreat by ascetic Philip II. It's a great site which you shouldn't miss. It's loaded with tapestry, sculptures and paintings. You can also visit the tombs of the Spanish monarchs. All the kings of the last 500 years from Charles V to Alfonso XIII are buried at El Escorial.

El Escorial is actually two towns, the lower town (known as "Escorial de abajo") carries the name of El Escorial, while "Escorial de arriba" or "San Lorenzo" carries the name "San Lorenzo de El Escorial." The lower town is pleasant enough - however most attractions are in San Lorenzo - in the lower town the Church of San Bernabé and the Casita del Príncipe are worth seeing while in the upper town the Monastery and central quarter are obligatory.