Madrid Historic Sites

El Escorial is a historical residence of the King of Spain and is also one of the Spanish royal sites in the city. It functions as a monastery, a museum, school and a royal palace too. El Escorial has two architectural complexes which are of great historical as well as cultural significance. One is the El Real Monasterio de El Escorial itself and another is the La Granjilla de La Fresneda, a royal hunting lodge and monastic retreat. These sites have a dual nature to them. El Escorial was originally a property of the Hieronymite monks, and at present, it’s a monastery of the Order of Saint Augustine.