Unesco-listed San Lorenzo de El Escorial was fulfilment of Philip II’s dream of raising monastery in a ‘desert’ Despite perching imperiously on a mountainside near Madrid for the better part of five centuries, the royal monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial has yet to give up all its treasures – or all its secrets Forty years after it was included on Unesco’s World Heritage list piety and patronage is undergoing a major reorganisation that will allow visitors to enjoy the peace of a previously off-limits monastic patio and to look at paintings once reserved for the royal gaze made possible by €6.5m (£5.4m) of EU funds aims to reintroduce visitors to the 33,327 sq metre site a hulking testament to the imperial and cultural might of Spain’s golden age The site is an austere monument to power Photograph: Denis Doyle/The GuardianEl Escorial was the fulfilment of Philip II’s dream of raising a monastery in a “desert” involved the genius of two architects: Juan Bautista de Toledo who made the most of the logistical knowledge he had acquired while fighting in Flanders for Philip’s father “This place was far​ away from everywhere else when it was founded; it wasn’t a literal desert but it was a kind of desert,” says Luis Pérez de Prada head of buildings and environment at Spain’s national heritage institution “It was an incredible feat of work and it shows humanity’s ability to create something in the middle of nowhere.” Although El Escorial is hardly an unknown destination – it received more than 450,000 visitors last year – Pérez de Prada and his colleagues are keen to offer people a fresh perspective Visitors pass through the monastery library Photograph: Denis Doyle/The Guardian“It’s a reopening with a much deeper understanding of what one of Spain’s most important monuments is about architecturally and artistically and of all the symbolism implicit in this place,” he says The most immediate change is the point of entry: instead of going in through the side visitors will enter through the Patio of Kings an imposing courtyard that immediately gives a sense of the immense scale and strength of the complex “You’re going to get a much greater understanding of the monastery’s architecture now that you’re able to come in through the Patio of Kings,” says Pérez de Prada “We really want people to understand what they’re visiting when they come to a place like this; it’s not just about saying: ‘Yeah I’ve done the tour and I can say I’ve visited El Escorial.’ You need to understand how it was created and how it’s been modified.” The Patio of the Evangelists at El Escorial monastery Photograph: Denis Doyle/The GuardianFor the first time visitors will also be able to wander around the monastery’s Patio of the Evangelists a tranquil garden of fountains and statues with a cupola at its centre that echoes the great dome of the basilica The other significant elements of the rethink are to be found in the dormant painting and architecture galleries reorganised and revitalised at a cost of €2.4m A painted ceiling at El Escorial monastery Photograph: Denis Doyle/The GuardianThe painting gallery will be arranged across nine rooms to show and explore the tastes commissions and acquisitions of four monarchs: Philip II French and German pictures – many of them not previously on public display – are works by Titian Almost half the rooms will be given over to Philip II to reflect his cultural clout Free newsletterA digest of the morning's main headlines from the Europe edition emailed direct to you every week day “Philip II is the person who lays the foundation of the Spanish royal collections,” says Carmen García Frías a paintings curator at Patrimonio Nacional “Few monarchs had a brand new palace like this one in which to set out their decorative ideas and collect together such fine works of religious art.” García Frías describes it as “one of the most important works of universal painting” which will displays nails and tools used in the building’s construction as well as sketches and models of a singular piece of design and engineering There are also more mundane matters to attend to Almost a third of the EU money – €2m – will go on updating the building and making it more sustainable by putting in LED lighting installing four electric vehicle charging points and using solar panels to help power Patrimonio Nacional’s workshops Tools used in the original construction of the monastery will be on display Photograph: Denis Doyle/The GuardianIn 18 months once the paving in the Patio of the Evangelists has been levelled the paintings hung and the architectural exhibits arranged visitors will finally be able to explore a little more of Philip II’s desert dream the monastery’s importance transcends the vision of one man “The most powerful monarch of the time is driving all this forward in his name,” he says “But it’s also a place where you can see the evolution of art and architecture making an important leap during the Renaissance It also shows us what society – and the world – was like at the time: the religious wars; the counter-reformation The Royal Monastery of San Lorenzo de Escorial still has a lot to show its visitors after almost five centuries of its existence Thanks to a €6,5 million EU-funded overhaul the Philip II monument is opening previously closed areas to the public "This place demonstrates humanity's ability to create something grand in isolation," says Luis Pérez de Prada director of buildings and environments at Patrimonio Nacional Visitors pass through the monastery library Special attention is paid to the legacy of Philip II who collected unique works of religious art in particular Roheer van der Weyden's Calvary - a masterpiece that has undergone a thorough restoration Calvary is a masterpiece of the Flemish artist Rogier van der Weyden Almost a third of the funds were spent on modernization: installation of LED lighting solar panels and charging stations for electric cars The Escorial is not only an architectural and cultural monument but also a reflection of the society of its time the religious wars and the Counter-Reformation as well as the influence of the monarch's power on the development of culture and architecture San Lorenzo de Escorial will offer a new perspective on the dream of Philip II and the greatness of Spain's "golden age" Michelangelo Pistoletto presented his own version of Caravaggio's "Christmas" stolen 55 years ago In Italy, the country's largest medieval mosaic was restored The stained-glass window of the Mykolaiv Church in Kyiv will be restored according to authentic drawings +380 (44) 465 53 41 +380 (67) 638 76 00 hello@pragmatika.media https://pragmatika.media The bridge, made of very good quality granite ashlar, has a four-eyed layout, with semicircular vaults and spans the Guadarrama River on the road that linked the Campillo and Monasterio farms, in San Lorenzo de El Escorial and El Dump It was built in the 17th century as a replacement for a wooden bridge. Before beginning the restoration works, it was hidden by the undergrowth, with part of its parapets detached and threatening ruin. The restoration has allowed to know the fourth eye of the bridge and return the fallen ashlar to its original place. The bridge, built entirely in granite masonry, has four eyes with semi-circular vaults of a single thread of voussoirs. The three intermediate piers have cutwaters upstream to reduce the current pressure on the supports. The board sits on the four arches, its sides being protected by separate parapets. There is a smooth impost at the height of the board on which the parapet rests made of rectangular pieces. At the ends of the parapet there are great ashlar buttresses crowned by a spire, a pinnacle and a ball. Next to the eastern access, on the south side, the remains of the entrance door are preserved. During the last decade of the sixteenth century, Philip II bought a series of properties with the aim of creating two new recreational farms near the Royal Site of El Escorial. Within the framework of this project, the monarch ordered the construction of three wooden bridges on the road linking the Campillo and the Monastery between 1595 and 1596. Years later, the prior of the monastery of San Lorenzo del Escorial requested King Felipe III to rebuild the wooden bridges. In 1621 the works of conservation and improvement of the road began under the direction of Juan Gómez de Mora. The old bridges are replaced by more solid ones built in ashlar masonry. Due to a series of economic difficulties, the works lasted until 1624. Board covered with dirt, before the performance Much of the parapets and the pylons that finished it were detached When these lands and brush were removed, the fourth eye of the bridge, unknown until now, has been unearthed. Before beginning the restoration works, this important exponent of early seventeenth century engineering was completely hidden by undergrowth and the board covered with earth. In addition, a large part of the parapets and the buttresses that finished off it were detached and only one remained in place, being in a sorry state. The work of restoration began with the cleaning and clearing of the structure, performing archaeological work. Subsequently began the restoration tasks themselves, providing adequate support to the access jambs and volumetrically recovering the north jamb. Thanks to the recovery of original materials found in the river bed, it was possible to replace a large part of the paving stone and to place the pieces of the parapets following the trace marked by the ashlars of the imposts that finished off the sides of the deck. Finally, a comprehensive cleaning and sanitation of the factories was carried out, to which a protective layer was applied in order to reduce water absorption. CERVERA VERA, L. (1986): "Sets and paths around the Monastery of San Lorenzo el Real ", in Population and monastery. Community of Madrid, Madrid, pp. 37-66. GARCÍA BUENO, M. (1991): El Escorial: Real Site and Villa. Society of Development and Reconstruction of the Royal Coliseum Carlos III, San Lorenzo de El Escorial. LASSO DE LA VEGA, M. (2010): "Casas reales de Campillo y Monesterio", in Palaces of Madrid, Community of Madrid, Madrid, pp. 42-47. MARTÍN-SERRANO, P. (1998): "Monesterio", in Architecture and Urban Development. Community of Madrid, Volume V. COAM Foundation, Community of Madrid, Madrid, pp. 313-316. RAMÍREZ ALTOZANO, JJ (2009): History of the royal forests of San Lorenzo de El Escorial. Vision Books, Madrid. ROSADO FERNÁNDEZ, V. (2001): And we made our way when walking. Brochure of the festivities of San Lorenzo del Escorial. SABAU BERGAMÍN, G. (2002): History of San Lorenzo del Escorial. Twelve Streets, Aranjuez. SÁNCHEZ MECO, G. (1995): El Escorial: from the community of Aldea to Villa de Realengo. City Council of El Escorial, El Escorial. SÁNCHEZ MECO, G. and ROSADO FERNÁNDEZ, V. (2007): The historic fence of the forests of the Real Sitio de San Lorenzo de El Escorial. Society of Development and Reconstruction of the Royal Coliseum Carlos III, San Lorenzo de El Escorial. SANCHO, JL (1995): The Architecture of the Royal Sites. National Heritage, Madrid. TOVAR MARTÍN, V. (1983): Madrid architecture of the seventeenth century. Institute of Madrilenian Studies, Madrid. VV.AA. (1990): Historical evolution of the Northwest itineraries in the Community of Madrid. Community of Madrid, Madrid. Casa Szoke by Aranguren + Gallegos, photo ©Jesús Granada  Casa Szoke is the 'silent' main character of 'The Room Next Door', Pedro Almodovar's film that won the Golden Lion at the 2024 Venice Film Festival The Room Next Door - Official Trailer - Warner Bros. UK & Ireland Designed by Madrid-based studio Aranguren + Gallegos Casa Szoke is located on the southern slopes of Mount Abantos in San Lorenzo de El Escorial a small town near Madrid.The architects aimed to integrate the house into the surrounding natural environment making the most of its features: to the south-west the Real Monasterio de San Lorenzo de El Escorial a 16th-century monastery and royal palace that has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1984.To achieve the project's objective the house is divided into a series of small interconnected volumes that fit into the rather steep terrain resulting in a small-scale object that blends into the land blend in with the erosion-darkened granite and the reddish tones of the pine trees.The different levels of the interior open up the house to the landscape and its magnificent views through large openings to find the best orientation for the long winter in San Lorenzo de El Escorial ensuring that the last ray of sunshine of the shortest day of the year falls on the façade with a large portico overlooking the domes of the monastery open on two sides to take advantage of the cool breezes from the pine forest.The Archilovers editorial team asked the studio Aranguren + Gallegos to understand how the architects' design choices influenced director Almodovar's decision to turn the house into a film set The Szoke House has a strong connection with the surrounding landscape How did you translate this visual and material connection into the architectural narrative of the project and what were the biggest challenges in harmonizing the building with the natural environment of Monte Abantos?The site of the house is a slope with a double slant on the east-west axis The forest that borders it to the north was an argument for us to design the house as a sequence of volumes that start from the forest and spill out onto the slope on which it sits dissolving the total volume of the house into a sum of independent volumes that are only connected from the interior to facilitate their integration into the landscape.The house ranges from a single height of the first volume where the architecture is more expressive in front of the water surface of the swimming pool.Each volume of the house functions as a space with a double-glazed front and two different opening scales a consequence of the sloping plane of the roof The garden and the woods are always in relation to the interior in a continuous vision through the large panes of glass. The project was chosen by Pedro Almodóvar as the set for his latest film How do you think the architecture of the Szoke House contributed to creating the cinematic atmosphere Almodóvar sought for the film Did you collaborate with the production to adapt certain spaces?Almodovar is a great film director but we were also surprised by his sensitivity to our architecture's spatial intentions and intuitions The dual and intimate relationship of the two protagonists with dramatic situations and almost a splitting and merging of personalities and emotions is masterfully treated by Pedro Almodovar through the double reflections created in the windows of the house's rooms Nature and intimacy merge with a solid dramatic charge.The choice of materials which blends with the warm tones of the forest and stone was central to the integration with the surroundings How did this material influence the perception of the interior and exterior spaces of the house especially during the film's shooting?The decision to clad the entire exterior of the house in Corten steel reinforces the intention to merge the architecture with its surroundings made up of slender pine trees whose trunks are the same colour as the rusty steel.On the other hand where the oak-clad walls continue to speak of the forest where the trunks have become planes forming the walls The external and internal worlds merge and are linked by a thin plane or glass filter that brings them closer and reflects them.The project shows a strong commitment to solar orientation and interaction with the local winds How did these sustainability aspects influence not only the living experience but also the atmosphere of the film shot within the house Do you think these solutions added a unique touch to the final result?We believe that the house has been able to accompany and complement Pedro Almodóvar's intentions and choices Architecture makes sense when it welcomes and enriches the person who lives in it Let's say it was perhaps the framework that frames the real protagonist to which it is the backdrop.We believe the house has accompanied and complemented Pedro Almodóvar's intentions and choices Let's say that perhaps it was the frame that bounded the real protagonist The World Heritage Centre is at the forefront of the international community’s efforts to protect and preserve World Heritage partnerships for conservation Ensuring that World Heritage sites sustain their outstanding universal value is an increasingly challenging mission in today’s complex world where sites are vulnerable to the effects of uncontrolled urban development Our Partners Donate Take advantage of the search to browse through the World Heritage Centre information Built at the end of the 16th century on a plan in the form of a grill the instrument of the martyrdom of St Lawrence the Escurial Monastery stands in an exceptionally beautiful site in Castile had a considerable influence on Spanish architecture for more than half a century It was the retreat of a mystic king and became the centre of the greatest political power of the time Construit à la fin du XVIe siècle sur un plan reproduisant la forme d'un gril le monastère de l'Escurial s'élève dans un site de Castille d'une exceptionnelle beauté Rompant par sa sobriété avec le style qui prévalait alors son architecture exerça une influence considérable en Espagne pendant près d'un demi-siècle pendant les dernières années du règne de Philippe II le centre du plus grand pouvoir politique d'alors شيّد دير الإسكوريال نهاية القرن السادس عشر بناءً على خطة تعكس شكل الأداة المستخدمة لتعذيب القديس لوران والمؤدية إلى استشهاده ويقوم الإسكوريال في موقع رائع الجمال في محافظة قشتالة ونظراً لهندسته الرزينة فهو مختلف عن الطراز السائد قبلاً فأثرت هندسته تأثيراً عظيماً في اسبانيا مدّة أكثر من خمسين عاماً وشكل إسكوريل مقر تقاعد ملك متصوّف وكان في الأيام الأخيرة لحكم فيليب الثاني أعظم مراكز السلطة السياسيّة في تلك الحقبة 埃斯科里亚尔修道院建于公元16世纪末，位于环境优美的卡斯蒂尔。整个修道院的设计采用长方形格子结构，这样的设计是为了纪念殉难的基督教徒圣劳伦斯，因为他当年就是被这样的刑具折磨致死的。这种简朴且与以往截然不同的建筑风格影响了西班牙半个多世纪。这里还曾是一位神秘国王的隐居之所。到菲利普二世统治后期，这里成为当时最强大的政治力量中心。 оказывала значительное влияние на испанскую архитектуру в течение следующей половины столетия а в последние годы правления Филиппа II оно стало местом откуда осуществлялось политическое руководство значительной частью мира Construido a finales del siglo XVI con arreglo a un trazado en forma de parrilla –en memoria del suplicio infligido al mártir San Lorenzo con este instrumento– el Monasterio de El Escorial se yergue en un paisaje de Castilla de singular belleza La austeridad de su estilo rompió con las tendencias arquitectónicas imperantes ejerciendo posteriormente una acusada influencia en la arquitectura española durante más de medio siglo Lugar de retiro del rey místico Felipe II en un principio el monasterio fue en los últimos años de su reinado el centro del poder político de este monarca the Escurial Monastery stands in an exceptionally beautiful site at the foothills of the Sierra de Guadarrama and became in the last years of 'his reign the centre of the greatest political power of the time Philip II founded the monastery in 1563 as a votive monument and pantheon to the Spanish monarchs from the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V onwards Spanish pupil of Michelangelo during the works of the Vatican Basilica and completed by Juan de Herrera after Toledo’s death a stone complex of extraordinary dimensions surrounded by formal gardens and the monks’ gardens and the Company Quarters where the palace and monastery services were accommodated completing the Lonja (the stone esplanade) accommodating the court as well as the two country villas for Charles III’s sons there is an ensemble of different buildings: the monastery brilliantly organised around eleven main courtyards and three service courtyards the design is similar to that of the grill the instrument used for St Lawrence’s martyrdom and had a deep influence on Spanish architecture for more than half a century several rooms do have a very rich and sublime decoration Contemporary writers praised it as one of greatest paradigms of the arts: the “Eighth Wonder” The Royal Monastery and Site of St Lawrence of the Escurial is the monument that symbolises the ideological and artistic expression that inspired and represented the Spanish Catholic Monarchy during the Golden Age as well as its permanence until the end of the Ancien Régime Criterion (i): The Monastery and Site of the Escurial represents a masterpiece of human creative genius where the great collective work of important artists were subject to the will and orders of the historic figure of King Philip II Criterion (ii): The Monastery and Site of the Escurial expresses an important interchange of human values and symbolises the ideological and artistic expression that influenced developments in architecture and landscape design during the Spanish Golden Age The architectural ensemble is an example of the palace convents and their urban and landscape design built by the European Christian monarchies Its final layout of the 18th century makes it one of the most representative examples of the Real Sitio – the courtiers’ residential town – developed by the monarchy as a seat and reflection of its power Criterion (vi): The Monastery and Site of the Escurial Madrid is directly associated with very important historic personalities in European history and the world such as the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V and all his descendants from the House of Austria and the House of Bourbon who occupied the Spanish throne the ideology of the society and the austere pomp and ceremony with which its divine and worldly majesty was represented The inscribed property encompasses an area of 94 ha The original constructions built during Philip II’s reign – the main building of the Monastery and the Houses of Trades – as well as those built under Charles III’s reign which made up the new town that constituted the Royal Site of St Lawrence The unified character of the buildings built during Philip II’s reign was preserved two centuries later thanks to the talent of the royal architect since this monument was an example of an absolute architectural model for the academicians of the Enlightenment The transformation of the majority of pasture lands that made up the royal woods during the 19th century and the town’s development in the 19th and 20th centuries have not had an adverse effect on the conservation of the monument or its perceived image The natural landscape of the estate of the Herrería the natural surroundings closest to the monument are under the protection of National Heritage The geographical location and the heterogeneous landscape of the monument have been maintained Both the original constructions built during Philip II’s reign as well as those built under Charles III’s reign interplay of open spaces and closed volumes The formal expression of the monument in itself contributes to keeping this spirit alive The functional dynamism of the main building designed for the coexistence of life in the monastery and the court is perpetuated today in the compatibility of its present functions: religious – Augustinian Fathers have run the monastery since the 19th century; educational – through the Real Colegio founded by Alphonse XII in 1875; and for cultural research and museum studies The general framework for the protection and management of the monuments is mainly established by the law 23/1982 which regulates the Spanish National Heritage Board and includes the Royal Palace – Monastery with its vegetable garden and agricultural land The Board is responsible for the protection and enhancement of the properties and rights of National Heritage as well as the patronage of the Real Patronato del Monasterio de San Lorenzo de El Escorial The ensemble of buildings is still administered by the Consejo de Administración de Patrimonio Nacional (Spanish National Heritage Board) a body which inherited the Crown’s Heritage and which has under its protection the most important monuments of the Royal Foundation the Board is responsible for safeguarding the coherence between the different elements favouring the use of traditional materials and building techniques depending on each case it carries out intervention and conservation projects in real estate and chattel including implementing nature conservation plans The Plan de Protección Medioambiental del Bosque de la Herrería (Environmental Protection Plan of the Herrería Woods) will be the main planning tool to protect the immediate natural surroundings of the property Additional regulations offer different degrees of protection and strengthen the conservation of the monument and its surroundings the latter being one of the most vulnerable aspects due to the threat posed by urban development The different properties are listed in the Spanish State’s Heritage Inventory as monuments depending on the corresponding category of each element the Government of the Autonomous Community of Madrid has classified the Royal Site as a Property of Cultural Interest (BIC Bien de Interés Cultural) under the category of Historic Territory as part of the Cerca Histórica de Felipe II (the surrounding land fenced off by Philip II) The Regional List of Species of Wildlife at Risk also protects trees that are considered to be exceptional the elements of the property are registered in the Local Authorities´ Protection Inventories the Plan de Ordenación de Recursos Naturales de la Sierra de Guadarrama (Sierra de Guadarrama’s Natural Resources Plan) seeks to guarantee its conservation and to link the conservation of the historical heritage with the conservation of the environment The protection and management of the property and its surroundings will continue through a global and inter-disciplinary approach in which the methodology of preventive conservation will be included and significance of the architectural ensemble and its surroundings will be protected in balance with the needs and evolution of society Pedro Almodóvar’s first English-language feature-length film The Room Next Door premiered at the 81st Venice Film Festival Adapted from Sigrid Nunez’s novel What Are You Going Through it tells the story of two old friends who reunite played by Tilda Swinton and Julianne Moore The first portion of the film was shot in the United States and the central part in the Szoke House in San Lorenzo de El Escorial (Madrid) a work of Aranguren + Gallegos Arquitectos for the purpose of which the vegetation around the building was modified the house is nestled in the woods of La Herrería It is broken up into small volumes to minimize its visual impact and engage in dialogue with the surroundings The project pursued good orientations with picture windows that have a key role in the movie’s plot Madrid is one of the main characters of the world of the filmmaker from La Mancha an exhibition on view at the Conde Doque Cultural Center through 20 October the author of the book Todo sobre mi Madrid Trailer: La habitación de al lado there arent any match using your search terms They say that Cuba's forests were once so dense and lush that one could walk from one end of the island to the other under a continuous canopy of shade Spain began to be built with the quality and resilience of our cedar Finding a trace of that wood was the main reason that led me to the Royal Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial it is promoted as the "eighth wonder of the world." I wouldn’t dare to assign it a number; there is too much world to see with my own eyes Although visiting in winter is recommended when the cold air seems to cut through your breath the mystery and beauty of the place envelop and calm you We hadn't yet reached the huge square that surrounds it We were searching for the route when we stopped at the side of the sanctuary of the Virgin of Grace The chapel dedicated to the patron saint of El Escorial already existed when King Philip II ordered the construction of the monastery in 1561 There was a very old man sitting on the bench that offered a view of where Capilla Street meets Floridablanca Seeing us curiously trying to photograph everything that impressed us he said: "Those two mountains are called Las Machotas." He told us more: that they were preparing for the patron saint festivities of San Lorenzo starting on August 9th and that the Virgin’s pilgrimage takes place on the second Sunday of September His presence was fleeting; in the blink of an eye perfectly framed by that imposing profile of the Sierra de Guadarrama which guards a reverent silence before El Escorial with its meticulous design and serene atmosphere The area preserves the condition of a Renaissance landscape masterpiece with geometric flower beds and the murmur of fountains although the topiaries no longer reach their original dimensions A restoration process attempts to reclaim that splendor of foliage shaped by pruning shears Climate change threatens plants that Spain will never see again But the garden of El Escorial has secured a place in memory with the iconic scene of Sara Montiel in the film *La Violetera* (1958) filmed there I found out that Charles Chaplin lost a lawsuit when composer José Padilla sued him for using the melody without permission in his film *City Lights* (1931) every time the blind flower seller appears The Royal Monastery is not only a testament to Spanish Renaissance history and architecture but also a setting for significant cultural and social events chose the basilica for her wedding in 1957 The place inspires reverence as a museum of sacred art with the main altar adorned with marble and gold life in El Escorial was a blend of solemnity and activity spending their time producing illuminated manuscripts and crafting products in the tailoring and bookbinding workshops which had traveled across the ocean from the Caribbean contributed to the grandeur of the building My search for Cuban woods reached its peak in the library I had to resist the urge to touch the shelves it is comparable to the Sistine Chapel for the frescoes on its vaults as well as a valuable collection of engravings The books are arranged with the spines facing inward though it is an aesthetic and practical choice such as a Bible in Hebrew and Aramaic; a manuscript with the *Relación de ceremonias y ritos de indios de Michoacán* The most solemn and mystical site is the royal pantheon Almost all the monarchs of the houses of Austria and Bourbon rest there although they are permitted in the preceding vaults where the infants are buried It is said that bodies were covered with lime and in the room called *Pudridero* they remained for 25 to 30 years until they were ready for burial in the marble coffins although he ordered its construction to commemorate the victory of San Quintín in 1557 and as a tomb for his parents We passed by one of the first imperial staircases in Spain We peeked into the queen's quarters with a view of the private gardens We were moved by the main altar of the old church where Titian's *The Martyrdom of St Other works by Titian are found in the gallery and we were particularly drawn to *The Last Supper* it is said to last longer than "the work of El Escorial." It was completed in 1584 It is often compared to the time it took to build the Taj Mahal (23 years) Experts in the field dismiss that phrase because they consider the execution process normal when compared to the 182 years it took to complete Notre Dame Cathedral or they draw their swords with Gaudí’s Sagrada Familia In the echoes of its corridors and the serenity of its gardens a more recent and controversial story is felt: the extraction of wood by Franco's regime for the construction of the Valley of the Fallen It was declared a World Heritage Site in 1984 We were exhausted from touring the monastery we longed for that continuous canopy of shade from the ancient forests Walking through Cuba in the shade seems like a utopia to us we remembered the old man who pointed out Las Machotas and we left with a thirst to discover what was not shown This is how you savor the enigmas hidden from public view those that El Escorial has harbored for centuries Reproduction is allowed when mentioning the source Mission Statement: to assist the integration of foreign residents living in Spain and this is never more accurate than when you establish yourself as a foreign resident in a new country Being able to quickly familiarise yourself with the culture and customs can help ease the transition during a challenging time This is why Euro Weekly News makes it our mission to provide you with a free news resource in English that covers both regional and national Spanish news – anything that we feel you will benefit from knowing as you integrate into your new community and live your best life in Spain you can forget about translating articles from Spanish into awkward English that probably don’t make much sense Let us be your convenient and essential guide to all things that will likely affect you as a foreign resident living in Spain Astonishing UNESCO World Heritage site in incredible Spanish city ‘tourists don’t know about’ reopens after €6.5m revamp It’s a real-life ‘Disneyland castle.’  An amazing UNESCO World Heritage site secretly nestled deep in the foothills of Spain’s central mountainous region is getting a full-scale €6.5 million revamp and reopening to the public The historic monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial is undergoing a €6.5 million overhaul that promises to unlock secrets hidden for centuries Though it’s not technically a ‘castle’ visitors from around the world are raving about its striking resemblance to a ‘real-life’ Disney castle the grand complex once symbolised Spain’s imperial might almost 40 years after joining the UNESCO list it’s being restored to its former glory – and more had an audacious dream: to build a monastery in the middle of nowhere two master architects – Juan Bautista de Toledo (a protégé of Michelangelo) and Juan de Herrera (a war-hardened visionary) – and immeasurable dedication to bring El Escorial to life A sprawling 33,000-square-metre masterpiece that still leaves visitors in awe aims to reintroduce visitors to El Escorial’s true splendour the ‘Patio of Kings‘ – the grand monastic courtyard – and once-private royal art collections will be opened to the public The stunning city of El Escorial already attracts over 450,000 visitors annually but heritage experts believe it deserves even greater respect and recognition the site is poised to become an even bigger draw for history buffs and architecture aficionados alike a far cry from cheap paella and sangria at tourist hotspots If you’re looking to see ‘real Spain’ pack your bags and head 35 miles out of Madrid to witness history brought back to life – because this is one makeover that truly reigns supreme San Lorenzo de El Escorial’s 400-year-old Casa de Cultura has also had a facelift this cultural treasure has swapped old-school for state-of-the-art The main auditorium now boasts brand-new carpeting ensuring audiences get both comfort and crystal-clear sound it’s out with the old and in with the new – featuring a sleek new floor and top-notch audio-visual gear to bring presentations to life The engraving workshop now has shiny new plan chests to store materials fresh information panels and billboards have been installed to keep locals in the loop about upcoming events and an additional air conditioning system have been thrown in to make this historic space even more versatile the Casa de la Juventud has undergone a dramatic transformation with a whopping €102,429 spent to cater to the next generation The venue now welcomes visitors with snazzy automatic doors and beefed-up security at both entrances the new Espacio +13 delivers in spades: virtual reality headsets and accessories bring the fun factor up a notch But the upgrades aren’t all fun and games – literally The already stunning auditorium got a glow-up too with new lighting fixtures and a projection screen for community events Even the staircases have had a chic makeover with vinyl flooring and decorative touches making the climb a pleasure rather than a chore the space now boasts colourful modular tables and a dedicated air conditioning system in the rehearsal room ensuring young performers can practice in total comfort A little TLC (and a lot of euros) can breathe new life into old spaces These upgrades aren’t just about aesthetics – they’re about creating functional welcoming spaces where the community can connect With historic charm on the outside and modern facilities within San Lorenzo is giving locals every reason to feel proud of their town’s cultural heartbeat Who said you can’t teach an old Casa new tricks More about living in Spain Find more news from around Spain (in English) Read more news in English from around Europe Subscribe to our Euro Weekly News alerts to get the latest stories into your inbox Euro Weekly News is the leading English language newspaper in Spain by delivering news with a social conscience we are proud to be the voice for the expat communities who now call Spain home With around half a million print readers a week and over 1.5 million web views per month EWN has the biggest readership of any English language newspaper in Spain The paper prints over 150 news stories a week with many hundreds more on the web – no one else even comes close Our publication has won numerous awards over the last 25 years including Best Free Newspaper of the Year (Premios AEEPP) Company of the Year (Costa del Sol Business Awards) and Collaboration with Foreigners honours (Mijas Town Hall) All of this comes at ZERO cost to our readers All our print and online content always has been and always will be FREE OF CHARGE Download our media pack in either English or Spanish ShareSaveCommentLifestyleTravelTop Madrid Day Trips: El Escorial, Toledo, Segovia, Avila, CordobaByLea Lane talked to me about a few of their favorites a short distance from their Spanish home (This interview is adapted from Episode 65 of my travel podcast, Places I Remember with Lea Lane. Listen here for more about Madrid There are so many places to visit outside of Madrid. In an hour or so you can get to mountains, and historical towns and royal palaces of the Castile region. One is El Escorial. The town is home to a monastery/palace that was built in the late 16th century for King Phillip the Second View of the Royal Monastery of El Escorial El Escorial is a historical residence of .. It takes a minimum of two hours to walk through So you have to really pace yourself and bring good walking shoes But it's one of those places that's so atmospheric: so gloomy and dark and Castilian You really feel like you're transported to another century when you're walking through Another not-to-miss UNESCO site is not far south of Madrid, the medieval hilltop city of Toledo. Toledo cityscape with Alcantara bridge (Puente de Alcantara) over Targus river Toledo is perched on a hill above the Targus River The very famous view of Toledo is by the painter El Greco The ancient city dates back to almost the beginning of the first millennium; it was the first to be conquered by the Moors in 711 It was a place of harmony and tolerance between Muslims And that's where the term Holy Toledo comes from because of the ability for the faiths to coexist together. I really recommend if you only have a couple of days What about Segovia It’s been standing there without collapsing for 2000 years It blows my mind that it was actually in use to bring water to the city until the mid 20th century So it's just an incredible work of ancient engineering There's also the massive Alcazar palace which dates back to the 11th or 12th century; it was used by King Ferdinand and Isabella Walt Disney used it as one of the models for Cinderella's castle full of spires and turrets and battlements and definitely worth spending the time to walk through And the third place not to miss is the 16th century Cathedral which was one of the last in Europe to be built in the Gothic style; very atmospheric but so lively and happy that you walk around the streets and downtown where the shops and restaurants are It's one of those cities that just lifts your spirits I would like to talk about Avila because it’s also very close to Madrid The old town is entirely encircled by medieval Romanesque walls begun in the 11th century It looks like something out of a fairy tale or a medieval fantasy One of its most famous associations is with a nun from the 16th century named Saint Teresa of Avila who was known for ecstatic visions and ecstasies including one where she supposedly visited hell which also includes what is said to be her mummified finger which is an hour and a half by high-speed train And Cordova has possibly one of the world's greatest mosques of course; the architecture is sublimely beautiful these different cultures and different religions JB: Part of it is from the Visigoths from the third and fourth century AD Interior of The Cathedral and former Great Mosque of Cordoba The interior blows you away because it's a sea of columns And then right in the middle of all that they carved out a little typical That's one of the best parts of Madrid — you have a wonderful city and you have these other exceptional places to visit Latest UpdatesCountries Why Join?IL MagazineFree Daily E-LetterVideoOur ExpertsTestimonialsFAQsTopics I’d never really noticed the starlings flitting between the chestnut trees of El Escorial before. For 10 years, this genteel pocket of central Spain was my go-to location for groceries and Sunday strolls in the formal gardens of its imposing 16th-century royal palace sipping an iced coffee at an outdoor table on the pedestrianized walkway of Calle San Lorenzo I’ll admit that I’m kicking myself a little that world-famous Spanish sunlight casts a dancing pattern on the honey granite walls and oak lintels of the street It picks out the patterns of grapevines trained along the sides of cafés and the subtle indentations worn into the stone paving slabs by generations of feet Established in 1557 by King Felipe II as a royal retreat away from the beating summer heat of Madrid the conjoined towns of El Escorial and San Lorenzo fulfill a similar function to the present day the temperatures here are more moderate than in the capital and in the depths of winter you might have to endure a couple of days of snow so the heat is tolerable when the mercury rises That’s the reason why El Escorial and San Lorenzo elicit envy in this part of the world and multiple generations of the Spanish royal family make their homes here It would be foolhardy indeed to claim that this is a budget destination That’s not to say that there aren’t bargains to be had nearby In a village just 10 miles across the mountains you can still pick up a three-bedroom fixer-upper for under $100,000 deep in the leafy hill country of the Sierra de Guadarrama but with a direct train connection to both Madrid and Avila cities El Escorial is a different style of living though and one which comes with an elevated price tag this is one of Spain’s most exclusive neighborhoods Tucked into a south-facing nook under the looming bulk of Monte Abantos the town is dominated by the copper-clad domes of the Royal Monastery and decreed that his palace should be discreet and free from the decadent opulence that would distract him from his religious devotions Strolling around the palace museum (and it is a palace too you’d be forgiven for thinking the collection of masterpieces by names such as El Greco and Brueghel (not to mention the dazzling arrays of New World gold dripping from every surface) stretch the definition of understated modesty somewhat San Lorenzo de El Escorial refers to the mighty monastery/palace complex at the top of town and El Escorial comprises the districts below El Escorial has the useful amenities and modern infrastructure whereas San Lorenzo gets the cobblestone alleyways and way more high-end shoe shops than seems necessary for a town of just over 15,000 residents El Escorial could be better described as handsome parks and gardens are on a more grandiose scale making a distinction between the two towns is nit-picking You could walk between them both without ever noticing you’d done so The entire urban area of both towns combined spans about a mile so distinctions between one and the other are really not worth worrying about the only noteworthy difference is that the bus station with regular connections to Madrid and beyond is in San Lorenzo if you choose to travel the 26 miles to the capital via the equally well-served railway station where hiking trails snake up through pine forest to the granite summits of Abantos the mountain air is infused with the scent of wild thyme wildflowers burst from the surrounding pastures and the high-rise towers of Madrid are visible across the flat plain and reservoir lakes that fan out south of Escorial If you wish to be neighbors with Spanish politicians or a dowager heiress But you’d be living on the outskirts of town the best approach is to embrace the flurry and fun of Spanish street life and the urban energy of town…while still being within walking distance of the mountain trails and valley paths on the outskirts you’re closer to El Escorial’s many amenities (A special mention goes to El Escorial hospital a municipal facility with excellent staff and equipment they whipped me immediately into a two-bed ward and fitted pins and a plate the next morning after a series of X-rays don’t have the hotel-like appearance of their U.S in many ways the exception to Spain’s usual status as one of Europe’s most affordable destinations in day-to-day terms San Lorenzo and El Escorial are surprisingly economical to live in you’ll pay top dollar in the touristy bars and restaurants beside the monastery or in the outdoor terrace cafés that flank the pedestrianized Plaza de La Constitution They’re used to making the most out of the tour bus crowds and paying as much as $3 for an espresso is the price for being in the epicenter of all that genteel prettiness Take a stroll just a few hundred yards from the obvious tourist traps and you’re back among workaday establishments where a glass of local red wine costs less than two dollars a three-course lunch with wine and coffee goes for $12 and Carrefour supermarkets on the east side of town sell all the staple groceries at knockdown prices (it’s hard to beat Lidl’s wine selection with bottles of decent Rioja for less than $2 or Carrefour’s half-pound bundles of asparagus for $1) be aware of the Spanish convention in which the renter is expected to pay a refundable deposit to the value of a month’s rent as well as another month’s rent in advance and—the one that comes as the biggest shock to the system—an agent’s fee of another month’s rent there are some nice rental properties available One caught my eye on a quiet side street in the heart of San Lorenzo’s historical district (and about 200 yards from the Royal Monastery) spread over 1,125 square feet of recently renovated living space It’s an affordable way to live in this atmospheric and pretty royal nook of the Spanish meseta An Overview of Traditions and Culture in Spain Enjoy Big-City Life With Laidback Charm in Málaga, Spain Retire in Seville, Spain and a Madrid setting serves as the American scenery The success of the reception among the specialized audience is measured in applause:seventeen minutes of ovation that Pedro Almodóvar (and his location team) set his sights on a “single-family house with cubic profiles” near El Escorial called the Szoke House which was built by the studio Aranguren + Gallegos between 2018 and 2020 is integrated into the native flora (Monte Abantos) and is considered an example of environmentally friendly architecture I say that a contemporary melodrama can also be shot here” adds: “We have worked the vegetation so that it is like the top of New York State in May When Almodóvar talks about the house he does so in these terms: “We were lucky to find a house with those trapeze-shaped windows that almost look like something out of a horror movie The Szoke House enjoys high prominence in the trailer for a film based on a novel by writer Sigrid Nuñez published in Spanish by Anagrama and titled Cuál es tu tormento Starring Tilda Swinton and Julianne Mooore the film tells how a friend visits another who suffers from terminal cancer and due to the bad relationship she has with her daughter the friend decides to move in with her to accompany her in her last days Basque wins ahead of teammate Yurani Blanco and Mavi García in San Lorenzo de El Escorial Usoa Ostolaza (Laboral Kutxa-Fundación Euskadi) is the new Spanish road champion breaking Mavi García’s longstanding dominance of the event in a dramatic finale on the traditional circuit in San Lorenzo de El Escorial Ostolaza’s teammate Yurani Blanco entered the final 15km with a minute’s advantage over a small chasing group that was powered by García The Liv-Alula-Jayco rider was seeking a fifth consecutive title – and a sixth in total – and she battled gamely to get back into contention in the finale García and Ostolaza caught Blanco with 1.5km remaining and they were joined soon afterwards by Sara Martín (Movistar) The four riders fought out victory in the finale with Ostolaza powering clear to claim the title while García outsprinted Martín for bronze “The truth is I can’t believe it,” Ostolaza said “This is a victory for all the team because without them it wouldn’t have been possible You have to believe and then give it everything you have “We have a good team and that gave us an advantage I came to the finale with strength left and I was able to win.” Results powered by FirstCycling LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department is investigating a shooting in the 4700 block of El Escorial Drive One victim has been transported to Sunrise Hospital in "unknown condition" on Tuesday morning Additional details were not immediately available from police 13 Action News has a photojournalist en route to the scene This report will be updated as soon as more information is available Report a typo Royal Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando Exhibition organized by the General Directorate of Cultural Heritage of the Community of Madrid in collaboration with the National Library of Spain National Heritage and the Royal Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando Ingenuity at the service of power tells a fascinating and little-known story: the presence in Spain between the XNUMXth and XNUMXth centuries of most of the manuscripts written by Leonardo da Vinci which today are one of the treasures of the National Library of Spain but almost all of those that are preserved distributed in the best museums in the world in addition to the approximately twenty that disappeared the exhibition vindicates the importance of science and the transmission of knowledge in the Spain of the Habsburgs and presents a Madrid that was a fundamental focus of knowledge of the time The scientific discourse has been made by a curatorial team formed by Daniel Crespo Delgado Almudena Pérez de Tudela Gabaldón and Elisa Ruiz García with the collaboration by Almudena Palancar Barroso The establishment by Felipe II of the court in Madrid determined that the Alcázar Real residence of the monarch and seat of the Royal Councils Ambitious projects carried out by mathematicians All worked at the service of the monarchs as experts in some of the subjects that made up "imperial science and technique" an essential tool for the exploitation and administration of the extensive territories of the Crown and to show the vast territory where the court settled became one of the most active scientific-technical centers in Europe Spanish scientists and technicians contributed to this With these engineers traveled proposals and inventions books and ideas that were shared beyond political borders Thobias VolckhmerAstronomical instrument case1596Bronze gilt brass and engraved enamelNaval Museum of Madrid It was possibly commissioned to the German mathematician and goldsmith Thobias Volckhmer as a gift to Philip II It is an instrumental set consisting of a sundial as well as maps of the northern hemisphere it shows all the astronomical knowledge of the time and constitutes one of the most valuable examples of the collection of scientific instruments from the XNUMXth and XNUMXth centuries Walter ArseniusCrossbow1563Brass and woodNational Museum of Science and Technology It was used in surveying and artillery to measure the distance and dimensions of distant objects; in astronomy to obtain the angular separation between two stars to determine the latitude coordinate by measuring the height of a star above the horizon It is based on the geometric method of triangulation The preserved manuscripts of the Florentine artist show an overwhelming creativity and an admirable capacity to express himself through images The encyclopedism of his knowledge prevented him from solving many of the issues conceived His works are characterized by being unfinished but everything he did as an author in different fields has been a source of decisive inspiration for generations to come intellectuals and artists wanted to own some of his written works who brought some magnificent examples of the master to Madrid Some original works by Leonardo show annotations made by scholars while reading them The existence of these notes allows to know the degree of reception of the ideas and the findings of the teacher and shows the circulation and interest in such works In some high-quality copies that were part of Pompeo Leoni's heritage legacy and that remained in Madrid at least until 1613 there are brief comments made by different hands in Spanish and Italian These are the manuscripts called Windsor Collection Manuscript B and the Codice sul Volo degli Uccelli of exceptional value and currently kept in the National Library This fact allows us to suppose that its possible owner did not facilitate the consultation of these pieces which were once admired by the Italian painter Vicente Carducho Appraisal of Pompeo Leoni's assetsMadrid,8 of April of 1618Historical Archive of Protocols of Madrid since it describes the manuscripts of Leonardo de Vinci that Pompeo Leoni owned in his home in Madrid Among them was the splendid album formed by the sculptor a scientific contribution of the first order This work is currently kept in the Royal Library of Windsor Castle since it was acquired in the mid-XNUMXth century by English collectors July 8 of 1613Historical Archive of Protocols of Madrid The unexpected death of Pompeo Leoni's first heir in 1611 led to a new inventory of the remaining assets in Madrid It is much broader than the first in regard to the artistic collections of all kinds described Eleven Vincian manuscripts are mentioned here which did not appear in the previous appraisal The construction of the Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial was the greatest artistic undertaking of Felipe II for which he spared no effort devised machines and more rational work systems to finish the work in an unusually short time for the time in which teams of Genoese and Milanese were of great importance apart from allocating the most select pieces from his artistic collections to the monastery A neuralgic point was the presbytery of the basilica with the large polychrome jasper altarpiece centered on the monumental custody of Jacopo da Trezzo The decoration was completed with the gilt bronze sculptures made in Milan by the Leoni Pompeo Leoni also acted as the king's artistic agent and was able to obtain Leonardo's manuscripts for him they would have had a place in the monastery library conceived as a great center of knowledge of the time moved to Spain in 1556 and brought with him the monumental sculptures with portraits of the imperial family that Maria of Hungary had commissioned him and which he worked on for much of his career In Madrid he also sculpted marble and alabaster sculptures similar to this sculpture of the king he acted as an artistic agent for Felipe II Climb with the openwork grillLast third of the s Royal Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial For the construction of the Monastery of El Escorial which must have used a very diverse specific instrument This palette is a sample of these various tools Leonardo da Vinci wrote that water was a substantial part of the Earth and of the human being His codices are full of notes and drawings from his studies on hydraulics This interest of Leonardo reflects the efforts of the Renaissance to know the nature of water and to carry out constructions to be able to store it Hydraulic projects also proliferated in Renaissance Spain Madrid and the court promoted some of the most ambitious which aimed to beautify the king's palaces but also to improve the situation of the capital and the country Some of these constructions were at the forefront of contemporary Europe they were drawn by engineers of diverse origins born in the four cardinal points of the continent but who moved among the main courts of the time and shared knowledge and aspirations Model of a mill for rolling and minting currency of the Royal Mint of SegoviaBefore 1868Elm wood Historical model of one of the laminating and minting machines that operated in the Royal Mint of Segovia from 1585 to 1866 which substantially improved the production of coins arrived in Segovia from the Hall Mint in Austria at the request of Philip II to his cousin Similar mills were installed in the mints of Cuenca Luis CarduchiTagus river choreography Stretch of the Tagus river where it joins the GuadarramaXNUMXth century copyPaper and watercolorRoyal Academy of History the military engineer Giovanni Battista Antonelli carried out a series of works to navigate the Tagus River and thus more effectively communicate the interior of the peninsula with the Atlantic the dream of navigating rivers and artificial canals did not disappear talented people from Europe came to court to put their knowledge at the service of the kings The moment of greatest splendor took place during the reign of Felipe II stands out the probable authorship of the most important hydraulics treatise of the time: The twenty-one books of ingenuity and machines which anticipated those that would be current in the Industrial Revolution two centuries later But not only were there exceptional engineers at court there were also them in the towns and villages developing innovative mills a versatile inventor who wrote a manuscript that allows us to discover the high level of popular Spanish technique This treatise includes varied subjects on science the length of the topics covered and his complete exposition on the technique of water make him one of the first and most important hydraulics texts to be found in scientific literature The original was written between 1564 and 1575 and the manuscript preserved in five volumes in the National Library is a XNUMXth century copy Jerónimo de Ayanz patent1606Paper and inkSpain This patent granted by Felipe III includes inventions as varied as an ejector to extract the contaminated air from the mines a precision scale capable of weighing "the leg of a fly" a mechanism to drain the mines based on the steam power a system for measuring the mechanical performance of machines Thanks to the testimony of the Florentine painter Vicente Carducho we have news of the presence in Madrid in 1620 of two codices by Leonardo da Vinci Carducho mentions having seen them at Juan de Espina Velasco's house Although born in Madrid and a prominent courtier the Espina family estate was located in Ampuero Juan de Espina managed to form a magnificent cabinet of wonders in his Madrid residence His gallery coexisted with collections of natural objects (nature) instruments and decorative and exotic elements (artificial) which has allowed a part of Leonardo's work in Spain to be preserved to this day Espina was also known for its spectacular parties which were sometimes attended by the best of the court set design tricks and special effects caused astonishment to which the literature of the time contributed Comedies about him continued to be published for years until the historical figure was overshadowed by the character The valuation of Leonardo's work also evolved over the years His worth as an artist surpassed the rest of his talents and his manuscripts became an object of collection and not study The fact that these were never published prevented further dissemination of their knowledge Only his thoughts and annotations on painting were compiled at his death by Francesco Melzi forming what is known as painting treatment by Leonardo da Vinci This allowed the dissemination of his studies on light and shadows the theory of perspective based on the use of color and his observations on the landscape Studies and theories first edited in 1651 by Raphael du Fresne in Paris The first Spanish edition appeared in 1784 Proof of Leonardo's influence and inspiration on other artists are the drawings that have been selected for this room Jan Brueghel of VeloursWorldly vanityyes seventeenthOil on boardCasa de Alba Foundation Many of the elements reflected in this vanity de Brueghel evoke the personal universe of Juan de Espina sculptures and art objects reflect the collections of his famous cabinet of wonders The armor refers to its military beginnings; the instruments to their important innovations in the field of music; the court party and the popular street celebration evoke the festivities and shows that made him famous at court Anonymous ItalianStudy of the Fight of a Dragon with a Lionh.1500Laid paper sanguine and white leadRoyal Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando This drawing is probably the oldest surviving copy of a lost Leonardo da Vinci original The Milanese theorist Lomazzo in his Treatise on the art of painting sculpture and architecture collects Giovan Francesco Melzi's allusion to a drawing by Leonardo on this subject in which he uses anamorphic perspective Until now it was believed that Leonardo's lost composition was transmitted from an engraving and from a drawing of this preserved in the Uffizi but anatomical details and compositional variations that only appear in the drawing of the academy demonstrate that it is previous The catalog of Ingenuity at the service of power The codices of Leonardo da Vinci in the court of the HabsburgsIt can be purchased at the exhibition itself and at the Institutional Library of the Official Gazette of the Community of Madrid His professional career is linked to the recreation of historical environments and processes using digital techniques She has been director of audiovisuals and new technologies in important museums and exhibitions It is worth highlighting the new assembly of the National Archaeological Museum The Delfin Treasure Room of the Prado Museum Or the Museum of the Real Maestranza de Caballería de Ronda He has collaborated with the Community of Madrid in exhibitions such as "Ventura Rodríguez architect of illustration" and "A court for the king With the Institute of Cultural Heritage of Spain in “La España de Laurent A photographic walk through history ”And with Empty in other projects such as the multi-screen installation for the exhibition“ El Greco or the stereoscopic short films for the exhibitions on the Canal de Isabel II:“ Alejandría el Sueño de Alejandro Magno ”And“ Leonardo Da Vinci As a digital imaging technician and visual effects coordinator she specializes in the digital recreation of historical environments She is a regular contributor to the El Ranchito studio With them he has been responsible for the digital recreation of great ancient cities: Alexandria in the XNUMXth century for the film Ágora Or Tenochtitlán for the television series "Hernán" And he has participated in important international projects such as the HBO series “Game of Thrones” or the National Geographic documentary “Cosmos and collaborates in conferences and publications Researcher at the Juanelo Turriano Foundation and professor in the Department of Art History at the Complutense University of Madrid He is the author of a dozen monographs in prestigious Spanish publishers (Akal Polifemo ...) and more than fifty articles in books specialized magazines and national and international conferences He has participated in various national Research and Development projects and is a member of the board of the Spanish Society for 2020th Century Studies His research has focused on the definition of the concept of progress and development in the Modern Age as well as on aspects related to construction fine arts and the territory in that period In XNUMX he was curator of the exhibition “Sueño e Ingenio Civil engineering books in Spain: from the Renaissance to the Enlightenment ” Doctor in Physical Sciences and Law Degree Retired Professor of the Department of Applied Mathematics (Faculty of Sciences University of Valladolid) and currently Honorary Collaborator of the University of Valladolid Foreign Member of the History Academy From Portugal Corresponding Member of the Marine Academy from Portugal Member of the Institute of History Simancas of the Univ Responsible Researcher or Participant in thirteen National and Regional Research Projects on the History of Science and Technology book chapters) on the History of Science and Technology Participation in different activities on Dissemination of Science and Technology (author / curator of museum content exhibitions and planetarium programs; teaching of courses and seminars The dissemination of the progress of science and technology in Spain (1850 to 1950) 1940) is a retired professor of Fluid Mechanics at the Polytechnic University School of Valladolid and is a full member of the Royal Academy of Fine Arts of La Purísima Concepción he is a corresponding academic of the Academia de Marina de Lisboa and the Portuguese Academy of History He studied Industrial Technical Engineering at the University of Valladolid and completed his studies with a degree in Hydraulic Engineering from the University of Grenoble (France) Later he completed a Bachelor of Art History and is a Doctor in this specialty His research has been directed towards the History of Engineering and he is the author of more than 150 publications including books 1982) is a career civil servant in the Body of Secondary Education Teachers in the specialty of Biology and Geology and a contracted professor at the Catholic University of Ávila he is a collaborating member of the Gran Duque de Alba Institution He is a Forestry Engineer and has a degree in Environmental Sciences from the Catholic University of Ávila and a PhD from the University of Valladolid His research has focused on the History of Technology and he is the author of several publications related to this discipline Graduated in Art History from the Complutense University of Madrid in June 1995 with an Extraordinary Degree Award Certificate of Research Sufficiency in September 1998 In his doctoral thesis he has dealt with the figure of Cardinal Granvelle (1517-1586) as an artistic agent for the House of Austria He has received several pre-doctoral scholarships including the one for Training of Research Personnel of the Ministry of Education between 1997-2000 and that of the Vocal for National Heritage Cultural Programs in 2001 Labor Contract at the National Museum of Decorative Arts 1996 she has held the position of Curator of the Royal Monastery of El Escorial (National Heritage) He has collaborated in numerous exhibitions among which it is worth highlighting Philip II A prince of the Renaissance (Museo Nacional del Prado 1998) and most of the exhibitions organized by the National Heritage since 2003 His research has been reflected in numerous scientific publications and conferences on collecting and patronage at the court of Felipe II and the Monastery of El Escorial in the XNUMXth century especially on subjects such as portraiture Doctor in Classical Philology from the Complutense University of Madrid (1974) Palaeographus et archivarius:  Schola Vaticana de re palaeographica Archives: Schola Vaticana de re palaeographica Palaeographia graeca: Schola Vaticana de re palaeographica Bibliotheconomy: Vatican Apostolic Library (Città del Vaticano) Emeritus Professor of Paleography and Diplomatics (Fac Corresponding member of the Royal Academy of History (2002) Member of APICES (Association paléographique internationale: culture -écriture-societé) Member of the International Scientific Committee of CRELEB Medal of Honor awarded by the Complutense University for national and international research work Member of the Board of the Royal Board of the BNE Decoration of the "Palmes Académiques" of France He has been the only Spanish researcher invited to participate in the International Congress organized in honor of Leonardo He has curated various exhibitions on Leonardo da Vinci She is the author of more than 200 publications A panel of experts considers the usefulness of diagnostic criteria and disease staging systems for patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) as entry criteria for clinical trials I hear about these different sets of diagnostic criteria called the El Escorial World Federation of Neurology Criteria and the Awaji Criteria for the Diagnosis of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis [ALS] and I hear about these different staging systems the diagnostic criteria and the staging systems even though there is some relationship between them The diagnostic criteria were initially designed for research purposes for clinical trial entry because the diagnosis needed to be an algorithmic process so you could say all of these people entering this clinical trial have ALS,” rather than using the “wisdom” of an ALS specialist The El Escorial criteria were designed after a meeting in El Escorial They divided the regions in the body into 4 parts: bulbar The rules were that you had to have lower motor neuron findings and upper motor neuron findings in the different body regions and then by the combination of upper and lower motor neuron findings you could classify people as to whether they had ALS you do not have ALS.” It was categorized into parts a bit like how multiple sclerosis was being categorized at the same time: suspected “We have taken everybody who has more than suspected ALS,” or “We have everybody who is in the definite and probable categories.” But it led to a lot of confusion because they were called diagnostic criteria they were entry criteria for clinical trials even in somebody who the ALS specialist knew this person had ALS but the person is being told that they have El Escorial-possible ALS There is a lot of confusion around the nomenclature It is easy to make these comments in retrospect Because of those difficulties and because one of the categories and because sometimes lower motor neuron findings can be difficult to find clinically but they are present electrophysiologically The Awaji criteria were designed to allow neurophysiological investigation to replace clinical examination as evidence for lower motor neuron involvement in a limb More recently at the Gold Coast in Australia Jeremy nicely summarized all the findings from the meeting We had a big meeting of many ALS specialists but we took on board the lessons of the last 25 years and understood that it is useful having a binary you do not have ALS.” Now there are Gold Coast criteria that are designed around the El Escorial criteria and they say that you have ALS if you have involvement in these body regions in a particular way the person must have progressive weakness without sensory involvement and with other causes excluded You have to be involved of upper and lower motor neurons in 1 body region if that is what was affected or lower motor neuron involvement in 2 body regions That is the summary of the criteria for diagnosis an ALS specialist is the keyway of making the diagnosis rather than criteria but they are useful for entry into research staging is important in cancer because it can guide treatment if you are in an early stage or late stage of disease It also allows you to measure whether treatment is improving because you will go back through the stages there has not been a staging system for a long time One is the King's ALS clinical staging system which now widely uses the El Escorial regions of bulbar If you have the need for nutritional support or respiratory support and those are defined within the staging system then you are automatically in stage 4 regardless of the number of regions involved Using that system seems to correlate quite well with the disease stage intuitively “Do you think this person is early disease What number would you give their disease stage?” then it correlates quite well with that algorithm There is also a functional staging system called the MiToS [Milano-Torino system] derived from the ALS functional rating scale which asks questions in 12 different domains about function There is an algorithm that uses those answers to stage people into 1 of 5 functional stages or the sixth stage MS: Are these things that you would think a primary care doctor or a general neurologist should know about PhD: They are not something that a primary care physician would need to know at all Even many neurologists would not need to know them It is for an ALS specialist or for entry into trials MS: Thank you for watching this NeurologyLive® Peer Exchange please subscribe to our e-newsletters to receive upcoming Peer Exchanges and other great content right in your inbox 609-716-7777 Whether you want to immerse yourself in nature or soak up Spain’s rich history by strolling through historic neighbourhoods take a look at these inspiring day trips from Madrid Built in the 16th century by King Philip II Put aside some time to explore the town itself or take the Madrid commuter train from Atocha the area also offers visitors the chance to hike through serene scenery Buses can take up to an hour and run regularly from the Castellana-Hospital La Paz stop © Victor Carretero Barbero / Getty Images View Cercedilla Tours When the heat of the city gets to be too much take the Línea de Cercanías C8B 50km (31mi) north to Cercedilla Surrounded by mountains and easy-to-follow hiking trails the area has routes that range from easy strolls to epic five-hour treks Try the yellow trail up to the Collado Ventoso It’s here that you’ll also find the Tren de la Naturaleza a scenic train journey that runs on a handful of select days through the sierra Be sure to book early to avoid disappointment Mick Haupt / Unsplash View Consuegra Tours Follow in the footsteps of Spanish author Miguel de Cervantes and take a pilgrimage to Consuegra to see the 12 windmills that he famously confused for giants in his 17th-century novel The mills share their perch with the ruins of a 10th-century castle which was the base for the Order of St John during the 12th century head into Consuegra’s tiny town and enjoy a selection of tapas at one of the nearby local cafés The journey to Consuegra can be slightly challenging which take approximately two and a half hours per day that you can book through InterBus Sign up to our newsletter to save up to $800 on our unique trips See privacy policy Dmitry Romanoff / Unsplash View Segovia Tours Situated northwest of Madrid is the ancient city of Segovia The historic architectural site features a UNESCO-listed Roman aqueduct that dates back to AD 81 and is known as one of the best extant examples of Roman architecture in Spain you will also find the impressive 16th-century Gothic-style Segovia Cathedral and a Medieval alcázar Foodies should make a beeline for Mesón de Cándido a popular family-run restaurant with views over the aqueduct the cochinillo asado – a local speciality of roast suckling pig with train trips taking only 30 minutes and leaving from Madrid Chamartín station regularly Taisia Karaseva / Unsplash View Seville Tours Take the train two and a half hours south of Madrid A visit to the Alcázar of Seville – an ornately tiled Moorish palace – is worth the trip alone The alcázar is famous for being one of the best examples of Mudejar architecture existing today in Spain Combine this with a 26-metre-high (85-foot-high) walk along the Metropol Parasol (the world’s largest wooden structure) and a bite to eat at Mercado de Feria (Seville’s indoor food market) and you’ve got yourself one perfect day trip Victoria Poveda / Unsplash View Alcala de Henares Tours Explore the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Alcalá de Henares a quaint Medieval city located next to Spain’s Henares River As the city is famous for being the birthplace of Miguel de Cervantes literary fans can get a fascinating insight into the 16th- and 17th-century writer’s childhood home which is now the Museo Casa Natal de Cervantes Keep an eye out for white storks roosting on rooftops from mid-October to early August too – Alcalá de Henares is famous for them Bravo Soler / Getty Images Only a short one-and-a-half-hour drive north from Madrid you will find the ancient forest of Hayedo de Montejo Part of the Sierra del Rincón Biosphere Reserve this hidden forest attracts 25,000 nature-loving tourists per year who all come to see its renowned beech trees the number of people allowed to visit each day is restricted See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in July See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in Summer Guides & Tips How to Attend a Bullfight in Spain Guides & Tips The Best European Cities to Visit in December Food & Drink The 5 Best Food Markets in Madrid Architecture Spain’s Most Impressive Bullrings See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in October See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in Autumn Guides & Tips The Best European Cities to Visit in November Guides & Tips How to Spend the Perfect 24 Hours in Santander See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in September Art 10 Madrid Galleries for Contemporary Art Lovers US: +1 (678) 967 4965 | UK: +44 (0)1630 35000 tripssupport@theculturetrip.com © Copyright 2025 The Culture Trip Ltd exclusive experiences and our expertly curated destination guides reviews of rare spirits and delicious cocktail recipes pioneering yacht builds and boundary-pushing private jets Explore the worlds of haute horology and fine jewelry as well as carefully selected style guides Explore the finest properties on the market standout interior styling and architectural wonders From science-backed retreats to traditional spas Be inspired by our conversations with Leaders in Luxury Elite Collections is a trusted distinction of excellence Get insider access to luxury’s best-kept secrets and exclusive offers Elevate your inbox with the best in refined living Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter.You will recieve a confirmation shortly Sponsored: From summer palaces to water gardens discover the royal sites to visit on your next Spanish vacation While the British royal family is undoubtedly the most world-famous monarchy Spain is another European country with a long line of royal family members – and host of impressive must-see royal sites – with a lineage that dates back to the 8th century The majority of Spain’s significant royal sites are in close proximity to Madrid making the capital city a perfect base for visitors hoping to enjoy a royal tour of the country those venturing to the south of Spain will also be pleased to find that they can visit one of Spain’s most intriguing royal sites in Seville From summer palaces and official residences to water gardens and hunting lodges discover the royal sites you need to visit on your next trip to Spain below all of which welcome visitors to step inside their magical royal world [See also: An Art Trail Through Spain] The Royal Palace of Madrid is considered to be the largest of Europe’s palaces / ©Shutterstock Named as the Royal family of Spain’s official residence the Royal Palace of Madrid is a must-see royal site for anyone hoping to immerse themselves in the country’s history and is one of Madrid’s most visited destinations Despite its title of official royal residence the reigning monarch does not actually live at the Palace of Madrid The monarch uses Zarzuela Palace as the family home with the Madrid place being used primarily for state dinners and receptions the Royal Palace of Madrid welcomes visitors to explore its vast halls The existing palace was completed in 1755 under the guidance of King Philip V after a fire destroyed the previous palace that sat on the site the palace has received numerous expansions and redecorations but still remains one of Spain’s finest examples of Baroque architecture The palace’s interiors are all that you would expect of such a significant royal site glittering crystal chandeliers and rich tapestries littered throughout the adjoining perfectly manicured Sabatini Gardens are also well worth a visit You may be surprised to learn that the Royal Palace of Madrid is considered to be the largest of Europe’s palaces; covering an impressive 1,453,122 sq ft of floor space with some 3000 rooms the Spanish royal residence dwarfs the likes of England’s Buckingham Palace and France’s Palace of Versailles The Royal Palace of Madrid is open to visitors seven days a week See website for seasonal opening times and holiday closures patrimonionacional.es/palacio-real-de-madrid The Royal Seat of San Lorenzo de El Escorial’s exterior is a fine example of classic Spanish renaissance architecture / ©Shutterstock Found in the town of San Lorenzo de El Escorial some 28 miles northwest of Madrid the eponymous Royal Seat of San Lorenzo de El Escorial was commissioned by King Phillip II for multiple purposes: the reigning king intended it to be a final resting place for his late father a monastery and a royal palace – although Phillip II is the only monarch who ever resided there El Escorial has served numerous purposes in addition to its intended three It also became a burial site for the majority of the county’s monarchs in the past five centuries cementing its status as a must-see royal site in Spain the vast building complex is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site The building’s exterior is a fine example of classic Spanish renaissance architecture with its austere and perfectly symmetrical structure visible from miles around with the frescoed vaulted ceilings in the monastery’s library drawing plenty of attention El Escorial is open Tuesday through Sunday year-round with holiday exceptions; see website for summer/winter opening hours patrimonionacional.es/san-lorenzo-del-escorial Until the 19th century many reigning monarchs chose to hold court in the Royal Palace of Aranjuez during spring and summer / ©Shutterstock the Spanish royal family traditionally use one of their many properties as a summer residence; up until the 19th century many reigning Spanish monarchs chose to hold court in the Royal Palace of Aranjuez during the warmer months of the year Although formally established in the 16th century under King Philip II Arunjuez’s site had been used by the royal family to house a hunting lodge for almost a hundred years prior The Italian-inspired palace holds boundless beauty behind its equally impressive exterior as visitors are banned from taking photographs inside the palace walls Although much of the building is open to the public – including the throne room king and queen’s bedroom and dressing rooms and the ballroom – it is the famous Porcelain Room that stands out the Porcelain Room’s ceiling and walls are adorned with intricate Chinese-inspired porcelain figures and motifs all of which are open for visitors to explore with the sprawling Prince’s Garden being the largest which has been declared as a UNESCO Cultural Landscape World Heritage Site the town holds many architectural gems throughout its streets with the old quarter a particular favorite among visitors The Royal Palace of Aranjuez and surrounding gardens are open Tuesday through Sunday year-round patrimonionacional.es/royal-palace-aranjuez The gardens at the Royal Palace of La Granja are considered to be one of the finest examples of an 18th century French formal garden in Spain / ©Shutterstock Found in the small hillside town of San Ildefonso the Royal Palace of La Granja was initially commissioned as a royal residence in the early 1700s by King Philip V having recently fallen in love with the surrounding landscape Despite Philip’s intention to retire to the palace when he abdicated in 1724 the death of his heir meant that La Granja had to be used as an official royal residence During its time as one of the court’s summer residences the splendid palace played host to a large number of grand events formal burials and political meetings all having taken place inside its walls the Royal Palace of La Granja’s architecture is jaw-droppingly ornate approaching visitors are welcomed by a columned façade that draws inspiration from both French and Italian architecture; inside Carrara marble sculptures sit underneath mesmerizing frescoes lining the vaulted ceilings While the palace itself is a beautiful structure Philip V was concerned with ensuring the surrounding gardens were of equal beauty the gardens at the Royal Palace of La Granja are considered to be one of the finest examples of an 18th century French formal garden in Spain with the abundance of sculptural fountains and water features opening it up to many comparisons to Versailles (which was built by Philip V’s grandfather) Although in the current day it is unusual for all fountains to be flowing together (such excitement is reserved for special events) the gardens still make for a wonderful tour Royal Palace of La Granja and gardens is open Tuesday through Sunday and is closed on certain holidays; see website for seasonal opening hours and ‘Extraordinary Openings.’ patrimonionacional.es/royal-palace-la-granja The majestic inner courtyard is encompassed by four striking pink façades / ©Shutterstock Drive just twenty minutes west of the Royal Palace of La Granja and you will stumble upon a lesser-known example of Spain’s most significant royal sites: the Royal Palace of Riofrío The complex was initially commissioned to become the home of Queen Elisabeth Farnese following the death of her husband King Philip V in 1746; however it is thought that she never actually lived there and the place was left empty for over a hundred years The palace was designed to reflect the former queen’s Italian heritage with architect Virgilio Rabaglio adopting the country’s signature square floor plan and orderly appearance that is reminiscent of Roman architecture The majestic inner courtyard is encompassed by four striking pink façades which are thrown into stark contrast against the greenery of the surrounding Riofrío Forest Although the Palace of Riofrío never became a permanent royal residence the surrounding forest made it a popular spot for royal hunting expeditions; in modern times the forest is a protected ecological and biological reserve Thanks to a nationwide program dedicated to restoring and maintaining Spain’s royal sites for visitor use including the recovery of much of the original décor from its mid-19th century decoration at the hands of king consort Francisco de Asis The palace has also received some 500 artworks from other Spanish royal sites Both Royal Palace of Riofrío and Riofrío Forest welcome visitors throughout the year Tuesday through Sunday; see website for specific opening hours patrimonionacional.es/royal-palace-riofrio [See also: The Best Alternative City Breaks in Spain] It is thought that the Alcázar no longer bears any of its original build / ©Shutterstock With origins tracing back as far as the Moorish rule the Royal Alcázar of Seville is considered to be one of Europe’s oldest royal palaces the Alcázar has been home to a number of significant figures the upper quarters of the Alcázar still act as the royal family’s official residence when in Seville It is thought that the Alcázar no longer bears any of its original build; instead it has become a melting pot of architectural styles as residents throughout the years refurbished and redecorated from ornate Mudéjar decoration to striking Gothic designs Since 1987 Alcázar has been noted as a UNESCO World Heritage site with visitors welcomed to visit the palace Thanks to its completely unique jumble of historical design the site has been used as the backdrop for many a film and TV show; you’re likely to spot a backdrop you recognize on your visit The Royal Alcázar of Seville is open daily throughout the year; see website for tickets patrimonionacional.es/upper-chambers-royal-alcazars-seville the representation of the nativity is an art in itself Nativity scenes are the icing on the cake of Christmas in Madrid Visiting the nativity scenes of Madrid is the highlight of any Christmas plan They are part of the obligatory itinerary of the outings and routes through the city at this time the little ones discover the history surrounding the most famous nativity scene in the world Nativity scenes in Madrid have historical and artistic value and a long tradition Especially for the variety of Neapolitan nativity scenes -the oldest form of this representation of the crib- which originated in southern Italy and was promoted in Spain by Charles III The nativity scene of the Madrid City Hall is one of the most popular in the city It consists of 200 pieces and is a creation of the master craftsman José Luis Mayo Lebrija This representation gives life to the scenography designed by the Association of Nativity Scenes of Madrid It is located in CentroCentro of the Palacio de Cibeles 2025 will be open to the public this Neapolitan crib of the eighteenth century that is one of the most valuable works that houses the Museum of History of Madrid It is composed of 50 pieces articulated in an oriental scenography that reflects the spirit of Baroque culture through the movement of the figures and fabrics It can be visited during normal museum hours there will be a brief explanation of the iconography of the cribs with special attention to the Neapolitan and a detailed analysis of the eastern figures This nativity scene with life-size figures returns to San Lorenzo de El Escorial and celebrates 28 years adorning Christmas in this town in the mountains of Madrid. It has been declared a Festival of Regional Tourist Interest, and can be seen in the Plaza de Jacinto Benavente from December 7 at 1 pm. The 500 life-size handmade figures that make it up will be distributed throughout the historic center of the town. Location: Jacinto Benavente Square (San Lorenzo de El Escorial) Altering the regal image of the Monastery of El Escorial with a large-scale project demands a throrough study of the landscape and the history of the place. If inserting a theater in any given urban center always requires an effort, in this particular case even moreso. In order to blend the new building in its surroundings it was convenient to chose a parcel with a deep slope that allows, leaving eighty percent of the program buried, to place small pieces over the hillside, thus evoking the old classical theaters. The influence of the landscape in the project led to the division of the building into two parts to maintain a one hundred-year-old Spanish fir tree that now plays a central role in the complex.   Starting from the study of the landscape and of the history of the place, the main objective of the project was to seamlessly blend the new building into its site, marked by the imposing presence of the monastery. The sequence of exterior and interior spaces of the monastery inspired the design of a zigzagging itinerary where the chain of spaces linked with the surroundings structures the proposal. The objective is to allow walking around the hillside where the new building stands without ever losing touch with the context, the view of the horizon, the sky or the gardens. The drop of the slope allows, leaving most of the program below ground, to set small pieces on the hillside. The austere finishes and the formal simplicity highlight the spectacular views of the surroundings. The interior spaces are organized by a sequence of spaces connected with the exterior. In contrast, the two main halls, with state of the art stage and acoustic equipment, are completely shut out from the outside views. Granite is used with different textures on the outer walls and floors. The main public areas are clad with maple tree wood whereas the roof is filled with vegetation that acts as a blanket covering the built surfaces and the environment. The austere finishes and formal simplicity highlight the impressive views, considered the most important element of the project. Rubén Picado, María José de Blas,Enrique Delgado  FCC / Fomento de Construcciones y Contratas  Miguel de Guzmán; Javier Azurmendi, Ignacio Bisbal  Sorry, there arent any match using your search terms, please try again using other terms. Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker © Roland HalbeOnce inside this fabulous landscape we want to make the most of its features and open up to the maximum influence of its geometric the envelopment of the house had gradually transformed its glass and stone skins according to the proximity of the trees their presence and the type of programme in each specialised finger So in order to bring all the rooms into direct the skins that define the broken volume have etched transparencies opacities or screenprints with differing densities on its components the influence of the forest on this strange object that has invaded the tranquillity of its territory walls and flowing ceilings of amber resin absorb wooden slats that allow the abstract presence of the forest to enter and blur the outside/inside divisions as if our interior space were a fossil even before it existed A strange feature slides along the upper floors a reflection of the owner’s collector behaviour You'll now receive updates based on what you follow Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors If you have done all of this and still can't find the email MADRID (AP) — Spain has exhumed the remains of Spanish dictator Gen Francisco Franco from his grandiose mausoleum outside Madrid so he can be reburied in a small family crypt north of the capital closed-door operation on Thursday satisfies a decades-old desire of many in Spain who considered the vainglorious mausoleum that Franco built an affront to the tens of thousands who died in Spain’s Civil War and his subsequent regime and to Spain’s standing as a modern democratic state After his coffin was extracted from under marble slabs and two tons of granite a brief prayer was said in line with a request from Franco’s family The dictator’s body was then carried out of the mausoleum and is to be taken by helicopter or by hearse to Mingorrubio cemetery where his wife is buried — a 57-kilometer (35-mile) drive away Relatives of late Spanish dictator Francisco Franco carry his coffin after the exhumation at The Valle de los Caidos (The Valley of the Fallen) in San Lorenzo de El Escorial In a bid to guarantee privacy and avoid the actual exhumation operation being videoed and posted on social media the government banned cameras and mobile phones among the 22 Franco family members government authorities and workers allowed into the mausoleum the government banned a demonstration against the exhumation by Franco supporters at the Mingorrubio cemetery although some 400 people some waving Franco-era flags and symbols and chanting “Viva Franco” gathered near the cemetery while police looked on said she felt “outraged” with what was happening and accused the government of “desecrating a tomb.” A helicopter carrying the coffin with the remains of late Spanish dictator Francisco Franco flies out of The Valle de los Caidos (The Valley of the Fallen) on its way to Mingorrubio cemetery Ex-Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero told Spanish national television that the exhumation “has great significance for our democracy Today our democracy is more perfect.” According to the Spanish daily newspaper El Pais it’s a major moment for the country: “Spain finishes with the last major symbol of the dictatorship,” it said in its main headline to its print edition Thursday The exhumation and reburial will not put an end to Franco’s legacy on Spain’s political scene since it comes just weeks ahead of the country’s Nov WATCH: Political conflict arises in Spain over the fate of Franco’s body after he and other officers led a military insurrection against the Spanish democratic government in 1936 a move that started a three-year civil war he viewed the war and ensuing dictatorship as something of a religious crusade against anarchist along with a profoundly conservative Catholic Church ensured that Spain remained virtually isolated from political industrial and cultural developments in Europe for nearly four decades The country returned to democracy three years after his death but his legacy and his place in Spanish political history still sparks rancor and passion thousands of people commemorated the anniversary of his Nov death in Madrid’s central Plaza de Oriente esplanade and at the Valley of the Fallen mausoleum outside of the capital And although the dictator’s popularity has waned immensely the exhumation has been criticized by Franco’s relatives Spain’s three main right-wing parties and some members of the Catholic Church for opening old political wounds A general view of The Valle de los Caidos (The Valley of the Fallen) in San Lorenzo de El Escorial The exhumation was finally authorized by the Supreme Court in September when it dismissed a months-long legal bid by Franco’s family to stop it The exhumation stemmed from amendments of a 2007 Historical Memory Law passed by Zapatero’s government that aimed to seek redress for the estimated 100,000 victims of the civil war and the Franco era who are buried in unmarked graves including thousands at the Valley of the Fallen The legislation prohibited having Franco’s remains in a public place that exalted him as a political figure Having been unable to press ahead with the exhumation last year Spain’s interim Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez wanted the exhumation and the reburial completed by the Nov a move that opposition parties say smacks of electioneering AP writer Aritz Parra contributed to this story © 1996 - 2025 NewsHour Productions LLC PBS is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization Subscribe to Here's the Deal with Lisa Desjardins The historic Tren de Felipe II is back on the road to travel through the Sierra de Guadarrama to El Escorial as in the 1940s Boarding a train for a trip just as it was in the 1940s a historic train that has been restored so that the public can once again see a locomotive and passenger cars of the twentieth century in motion the large windows and period finishes will not be the only thing that will transport travelers to another era: even the conductors will be in period uniforms comes with some new features: according to Alsa for this season they have “reinforced the animation changed the characters and now we have sound in the passenger cars“ which started running again last September 21 and will do so until December 14 departs from Príncipe Pío Train Station at 10:20 am and returns from El Escorial Train Station at 5:25 pm The circulation dates scheduled for this season are as follows: this train trip to the 40’s is not only about the journey: the tickets include from the entrance to the monuments of El Escorial to panoramic tours and characterized visits MADRID (OSV News) — After two men married Feb 24 in a civil ceremony inside a Catholic chapel at a private estate near Madrid the Archdiocese of Madrid reprimanded organizers of the service The Catholic hermitage of the Holy Trinity in which the ceremony took place is located in the municipality of El Escorial northwest of the Spanish capital El Escorial is well known as the location of the biggest building in Spain a palace built by King Philip II in the 16th century at the peak of the Spanish empire said that “it was neither informed nor consulted about the possibility of carrying out such celebration being a unilateral act of the estate that will have canonical effects in this regard “In no case,” the statement on the archdiocese’s website said “is it permitted to perform a civil marriage within a religious enclosure.” The archbishopric additionally stated that “family hermitages can only be used for the purpose granted to them by the Church.” “They cannot be a place for public religious celebrations unless expressly authorized by the Bishopric nor can they be used for commercial purposes or for civil celebrations of any kind,” it said In a video that was widely shared on social media in Spain and around the world two men dressed in suits walk out of the chapel holding hands The clip ends with a picture from the marriage ceremony itself where the men stand in front of what looks like the altar covered with plants and the two men are being wrapped in a white cloth on their shoulders and are holding a cross posted the video from the wedding on his X account (formerly Twitter) saying that the ceremony was “an act of sodomitic exaltation that took place in the chapel of a private wedding estate in Madrid.” “If you are Catholics and you are invited to such irreverence Let us pray for their conversion,” the priest wrote deputy secretary of health and education of the Popular Party Because I know that your vision of ‘The Truth’ prevents you from seeing the harm of its publication,” she said as reported by El Mundo Spanish newspaper on its website “If the real objective were the conversion of their souls the ‘pretended’ ridicule and public judgment would not prevail As a Catholic I will always be with those who profess love for God not with those who use him to sow hatred,” the deputy said The heated debate comes only a month after the Spanish bishops fervently backed the pope following the Vatican doctrinal dicastery’s publishing of the declaration “Fiducia Supplicans” (“Supplicating Trust”) on “the pastoral meaning of blessings.” After the meeting of the Permanent Commission of Spanish bishops’ conference in Madrid Jan the bishops showed their support for the document by releasing a statement on their “deep ecclesial communion and adherence” to Pope Francis and his magisterium the church allows the blessing of couples in irregular situations such as same-sex couples and couples who have divorced and remarried The supporting document of the Spanish prelates did not directly mention “Fiducia Supplicans,” but Auxiliary Bishop César García Magán of Toledo told journalist at the press conference following the Permanent Commission’s meeting that “a document of the Holy See is not commented on” but rather “accepted” and “welcomed in that spirit of communion with the Holy Father.” “Fiducia Supplicans” underlines that even if couples in irregular situations may be blessed the gesture of pastoral closeness must avoid any elements that remotely resemble a marriage rite It reiterated church teaching that marriage is between one man and one woman The Spanish parliament voted to legalize same-sex marriage in June 2005 despite heavy opposition from the Catholic Church Panteón Real de El Escorial (photograph by Bocachete/Wikimedia) Every royal family has its ostentatious burial chamber, from Basilique Saint-Denis in France to the Hapsburg Imperial Crypt in Austria. In Spain, 26 gold and marble tombs are installed in San Lorenzo del Escorial containing every monarch since the 16th century’s Charles V before these regal remains are allowed to enter their gilded sepulchers they must first be reduced to bones in the “Rotting Room.” and even arranged with its granite architecture like the gridiron on which San Lorenzo was roasted alive Felipe II also designed it as his own tomb Diagram of the Royal Pantheon (by SalomonSegundo/Wikimedia) It’s here where for at least 20 years mortal kings — and queens who birthed kings — decompose beneath lime until they are completely bone so whether Juan Carlos will be eternally among the glimmering gold tombs of the past Spanish monarchs remains a question.  Tombs of Carlos and Felipe in the Pantheon (photograph by Gabriel Rodríguez/Flickr) The Royal Pantheon (photograph by Alberto/Flickr) photograph by Bocachete/Wikimedia photograph by Rogelio/Flickr Stairs down to the Pantheon (photograph by losmininos/Flickr) Morbid Mondays highlight macabre stories from around the world and through time, indulging in our morbid curiosity for stories from history’s darkest corners. Read more Morbid Mondays> We depend on ad revenue to craft and curate stories about the world’s hidden wonders. 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SpainChevron MadridChevron GettySave this storySaveSave this storySaveAll products and listings featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors we may receive compensation from retailers and/or from purchases of products through these links But if you're looking to escape the summer heat there's plenty to do within a short drive Brush up on your Spanish history with visits to Segovia’s famous castle and the symbolic aqueduct or set off for El Escorial to see where the royal family would often retreat Save some battery—yours and your phone's—for the soaring cathedral in Toledo offers its own twist on Spanish regional fare we've laid out the best day trips from Madrid and relax in each; all you have to do is go further afield __Click the link to read our complete Madrid city guide.__ Segovia is one of the most popular day trips from the capital Though it's known for its ancient Roman aqueduct its Disney-esque castle (legend has it that it was part of what inspired Walt’s version) and city-center cathedral a UNESCO World Heritage site—so a jaunt here is jam-packed from start to finish You’ll want to leave Madrid bright and early to have time for it all if you want to make it back in time for tapas—unless you've booked a room at Parador de la Granja the magnificent Palacio Real de La Granja is where the royals would retreat to go hunting or escape the heat This is a must-see for all tourists—especially anyone obsessed with royals There's lots to explore inside the palace This was the last Gothic cathedral built in the country and sits at the city’s highest point Its grandeur is impressive no matter what your religious background and many people consider the cathedral one of the most beautiful in Spain and note that entry is free for services on Sunday mornings eager to try its famous roasted suckling pig There are also vegetarian salads and stews and more seafood and meat dishes than you can count; opt for the sampler menu to try the highlights the venerable restaurant draws lots of crowds and a testament to the prowess and survival skills of the ancient Romans Although it's undergone a few modifications over the centuries it still retains its original structure from nearly 2,100 years ago No tickets are required—you can just glimpse it from the outside The lack of cement or mortar between the stones may leave you dumbfounded—if not wholly impressed But the rooms are neither flashy nor extravagant which helps keep the attention on the historic building—and on Segovia itself You'll see plenty of conventioneers and tour groups but all that activity keeps up the energy level in the lobby Families will praise the outdoor pool and small spa and fitness buffs can keep up their routine in the gym but it was actually once a medieval fortress It was rebuilt in a different style following a fire and today visitors can explore its many halls and secret passageways but the wait—and small price of admission—is well worth it: Families will love it Tourists will fill their memory cards to the brim Visitors can explore its many houses of worship is another must-see that is a complement to—not a replacement for—Madrid’s main houses of art.) But keep in mind: while casually wandering the streets for impromptu sightseeing is entertaining it’s best to have a plan to minimize time waiting in line was once a 10th-century fortress; but today Alcázar Fortress may be best known from its ubiquitous position on the cover of many a modern-day Spanish textbook The architectural masterpiece houses a military museum with a massive trove of historical and military artifacts that cover all the epic battles and monarchical rulers of Spain Even if you only peep the building’s façade—with its iconic towers—the visit will be worth it and you'll be overcome with an immediate sense of calm Entry to the monastery and gardens will set you back a couple of euros but the peace of mind—especially after a hectic day of sightseeing—will be worth it Religion and history buffs dominate the pathways but any tourist will appreciate at least a few minutes in the complex which offers an eye-opening look into the life of a Franciscan monk a casual gastropub within the ancient city fortress has a stone-lined cave—an especially atmospheric dining setting Tapas include aioli-drenched potatoes stuffed with meat and veggies and hearty carcamusas a local stew made with hot pork and vegetables and served as a bar snack you're likely to run into fellow tourists especially when it's warm enough to sit outside a quintessential example of Spanish Gothic style was born under the auspices of Ferdinand III but the structure took centuries to complete and many of the chapels and naves were added by subsequent rulers the church has a small entrance fee for non-worshippers don’t miss El Greco’s portraits of the 12 apostles Housed in a former hospital with beautiful Moorish ceilings the building itself is a veritable mecca for anyone who loves 16th- and early-17th-century art but mega fans will want a bit of extra time and the museum's companion app provides added detail about the exhibitions and the temperatures here are often cooler Head here to see where and how the royals vacationed during a visit to this majestic place work up an appetite strolling the halls of the monastery before sampling one of the many popular neighborhood cafes was once the royal residence of the Spanish king This massive complex is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site with an art gallery Show up early or prepare for long lines—this is one of the most popular sites in town a no-fuss restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating The famous cocido (a hearty meat-and-vegetable stew) but you can't go wrong with bacalao or oxtail stew—this is Spain And since you're technically in a steakhouse this is a perfect complement to a day trip La Silla de Felipe II is a hillside lookout point—it's the perfect place to picnic and take panoramic photos of El Escorial This is a great place for families; you'll find lots of locals as well as tourists with a car and some free time on their hands Bring snacks for a picnic or stock up on supplies at the small shop on the grounds and seasonal menus with locally sourced ingredients could only mean one thing: a Michelin star La Montia's set menus (at different price points) represent the chef's love for the land Expect biodynamic breads from a local farm and even water collected from a local spring Each dish is plated like a piece of art and explained in great detail up-to-the-minute voice in all things travel Condé Nast Traveler is the global citizen’s bible and muse We understand that time is the greatest luxury which is why Condé Nast Traveler mines its network of experts and influencers so that you never waste a meal or a hotel stay wherever you are in the world either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content This is the moment one of the rarest birds of prey in the world is rescued by policemen from a royal palace The lost and dehydrated young imperial eagle (Aquila adalberti) was spotted as it struggled to fly at the Escorial Royal Monastery near the Spanish capital Madrid the bird of prey could be seen bounding along an exterior wall in the courtyard of the somber building Royal officials called for help as the juvenile bird seemed unable to leave the ancient retreat It was saved when officers from a wildlife unit of the Civil Guard stepped in and captured the bird on July 29 Footage of the rescue shows that after dropping a blanket over its head officers were able to put the bird in a transporter box stating: "The animal was finally transferred to the Wildlife Recovery Center in the town of Tres Cantos Ministry of Agriculture official Luis Gonzalez said: "The first records of Spanish imperial eagles are from the late Pleistocene and early Holocene in the eastern Iberian Peninsula and their distribution seems to have been limited to the distribution areas of Mediterranean vegetation and the European rabbit." The Spanish imperial eagle is native to the plains as well as mountain ranges that form part of the Central System mountain range in Portugal while they live for about 20 years in the wild The Spanish imperial eagle is currently listed as vulnerable on the endangered species list Findings revealed by Bird Life International a registered charity aimed at conserving birds and their habitats explained that while most poisonings and electrocutions of birds are accidental they are the most frequent causes of mortality with 40 percent of cases linked to livestock protection Eagles have long featured prominently in Spanish heraldry and ornaments who conquered Spain in the 1st century B.C were known to use effigies of eagles as symbols of their martial prowess while the later Roman and Habsburg empires featured double-headed eagles on buildings and flags Lawrence at El Esocrial was built by King Philip II of Spain in the Guadarrama Mountains to commemorate his 1557 victory at the Battle of St El Escorial is situated at the foot of Mount Abantos in the Sierra de Guadarrama range Intended as the burial place for his parents it was where Philip spent the last years of his life El Escorial is the largest Renaissance-era building in Europe and is a major tourist attraction This story was provided to Newsweek by Zenger News Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground Newsletters in your inbox See all The mountains of pine and granite have been a place for hiding it was the scene of some of the fiercest battles several of which were seen by Ernest Hemingway The Guadarrama captured his narrative mind and he made it the setting of his 1940 novel "},"children":[]},{"name":"italic","children":[{"name":"text","attributes":{"value":"For Whom the Bell Tolls"},"children":[]}]},{"name":"text","attributes":{"value":" a story about the Republican guerrillas hiding in the mountains and the American Robert Jordan who joins 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café"},"children":[]}]}]},"summary({\"maxCharCount\":160})":{"type":"json","json":[{"name":"paragraph","children":[{"name":"text","attributes":{"value":"It’s before 9am outside Da Jolanda restaurant in Traversa and the old boys at Di Berti café have retreated"},"children":[]}]}]},"summary({\"maxCharCount\":175})":{"type":"json","json":[{"name":"paragraph","children":[{"name":"text","attributes":{"value":"It’s before 9am outside Da Jolanda restaurant in Traversa and the old boys at Di Berti café have retreated from a terrace to"},"children":[]}]}]},"summary({\"maxCharCount\":225})":{"type":"json","json":[{"name":"paragraph","children":[{"name":"text","attributes":{"value":"It’s before 9am outside Da Jolanda restaurant in Traversa and the old boys at Di Berti café have retreated from a terrace to the shade beneath an awning and finds his own plots twists in the setting for the novel ‘For Whom the Bell Tolls’Mount Peñalara is the highest peak in Sierra de GuadarramaGETTY IMAGESJames PattersonSunday August 27 2023 The Sunday TimesSpain’s Sierra de Guadarrama was once wild and he made it the setting of his 1940 novel For Whom the Bell Tolls A private art collector's copy of "The Immaculate Conception of El Escorial" by Spanish painter Bartolomé Esteban Murillo was disfigured after a furniture restorer's efforts to clean the painting resulted in a blurry ill-proportioned recreation painted over of the Virgin Mary's face The original is on the left. The two attempts at "restoring" it are on the right. Ouch."Experts call for regulation after latest botched art restoration in Spain: Immaculate Conception painting by Murillo reportedly cleaned by furniture restorer."https://t.co/t3kAIZYnNS pic.twitter.com/m8Kabrt7Qu The undated, painted copy of the Murillo was held by a private art collector in Valencia, Spain, who was reportedly charged 1,200 euros for the botched restoration, according to The Guardian The original painting by the 17th century Baroque painter is held at the Museo del Prado in Madrid which is like going to a plumber for my dental work," art conservator Lisa Rosen told Newsweek in a phone interview Rosen apprenticed in Rome, Italy and spent more than a decade restoring frescoes, oil paintings and marble for churches, museums and private collectors throughout Italy. Her last restoration job, before returning to the United States to open her Fine Art Restoration studio in New York She has restored paintings by 16th century painter Paris Bordone (an apprentice of the Renaissance painter Titian) and 20th century American artist Jean-Michel Basquiat The disfigured Murillo has caused a similar incredulous and shocked response as the 2012 "Monkey Christ" fiasco caused when an 81-year-old parishioner of the Santuario de Misericordia—a former hermitage in Borja Spain—attempted an amateur restoration of the painting "Ecce Homo." The results drew ridicule from around the world who compared the blemished portrait of the religious figure Jesus to a monkey or potato just a little bit more—extending that color She didn't have 30 years experience; it was from the heart And I'm sure these furniture restorers thought similarly: 'What could it possibly entail?'" Rosen knows exactly what professional restoration entails which includes some counterintuitive practices the next untrained art cleaner should keep in mind—though it would be preferable if they didn't make the attempt in the first place using cotton swabs to remove both layered grime and the yellowing varnish found on many old paintings The next step is called 'consolidating,' which is the process of glueing down paint that's lifting or used to contour around loose edges to keep corroding air from leaking into the space between the paint layer and the canvas which Rosen compared to "spackling a wall" with plaster "You fill wherever the painting is missing," Rosen said "The filler is going to recreate the height of the surrounding paint." the artwork is now ready for restorative painting Since art restoration evokes old methods and materials it's easy to assume conservators like Rosen are akin to Dan Brown characters tracking down centuries-old paint or using high-tech forensics But restoring damaged paintings actually requires nearly the opposite: the application of materials completely unlike those used in the original painting "You never use the same products the original artwork was made out of," Rosen said "I have a feeling that in this situation they used oil paint on an oil painting instead of the turpentine used to dissolve oil paints "In restoration or conservation everything we do has to be what we call 'reversible,' which means it can be removed without harming the original," Rosen said describing a keystone principle for conservators varnish and any other material to be applied "With restoration colors I can go on top and it looks like oil paint There are even schools of thought that argue against too-perfect color matching While some conservators seek perfection in their restorations others try to offset their modifications just enough for naked eye identification of exactly where on a painting restoration work has been performed select colors that are a slight shade darker than the original painting restoring the original artwork to perfection when viewed at a distance But while there are processes and best practices that weren't followed in the case of "The Immaculate Conception of El Escorial" or "Ecce Homo," sometimes it just comes down to experience There is no foolproof method for reliably reproducing matching colors "That's the years of experience," Rosen said "Being able to match colors and create them on your palette quickly It takes years of doing it to get it right." Rosen was tasked with restoring a left hand After eight hours spent on a single inch of the painting her instructor came back in the room and wiped away all her work 'You didn't look at the other hand,'" Rosen recalled "I wasn't thinking of the master who had done the original painting In her intensive concentration on what needed fixing which could have revealed the original painter's methods because the aim of the restorer is to emulate the original "You have to obliterate your ego," Rosen said "It's not as easy as 'buy a tube of flesh color and squeeze it out and put it on the painting,'" she added but it's not ever just that shade: it's got a patina of age on it so you've got to look at the other parts of the painting and realize you're not painting for you." THE BEST OF THE AMERICAN LATINO & MULTICULTURAL EXPERIENCE The Felipe II Train starts its journey at the Principe Pío train station in the heart of the Spanish capital of Madrid It has a locomotive from 1960 and has four passenger cars from 1940. Despite its age restoration efforts on the machine allow it to travel up to 100 kilometers per hour the Felipe II Train continues its journey through the Sierra de Guadarrama and after a 50-minute journey it arrives at the San Lorenzo de El Escorial train station This city is home to the Royal Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial built in the 16th century between 1563 and 1584 attracts thousands of local and foreign tourists every year who enjoy the cultural Visitors will also be able to discover the Casita del Príncipe the Casita de los Infantes or the Carlos III Coliseum and walk through the picturesque town that preserves the period's architectural richness Tickets for the Felipe II train are available online for 20 euros. There are different types of experiences that even include the tickets for the Royal Monastery plus guided tours. There is also the possibility of renting train cars or even the entire train for family or company events. The historical tourist trip owes its name to Felipe II (anglicized as Philip II), called 'El Prudente,' was king of Spain, Naples and Sicily, Portugal and the Algarves, and of England and Ireland jure uxoris. He is considered one of the most important monarchs in history. He was the son and heir of Carlos I of Spain and Isabella of Portugal, brother of María de Austria and Juana de Austria, paternal grandson of Juana I de Castilla and Felipe I 'El Hermoso,' and of Manuel I of Portugal and María de Aragon through his mother's side. History says that Felipe II modernized the first world empire where "the Sun never set," and integrated territories from all continents, leading to numerous conflicts with various international powers. In 1561, Felipe II moved the capital of Spain to Madrid and in 1563 he began the construction of the El Escorial Monastery, where he died on Sept. 13, 1598 at the age of 71. THE BEST OF THE AMERICAN MULTICULTURAL EXPERIENCE The organisation responsible for managing a number of royal residences in Spain has confirmed that a Titian painting is undergoing restoration after it fell off the wall in the Royal Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial. The work was on display in the Sacristy which is not publicly accessible. The lower part of the painting, which depicts the Crucifixion (around 1555), was torn after the piece loosened due to weak wall fastenings. Crucially, the figure of Christ was undamaged. “Detaching from the wall caused a considerable horizontal tear [across the canvas support],” says an official statement. “The painting did not fall to the ground [contrary to press reports]. After coming away from the wall, it fell onto a dresser containing liturgical objects,” the statement adds. “The surface of the painting was not harmed; it was sent immediately to the restoration workshops at the Royal Palace of Madrid to be restored.” Conservation experts from museums including the Museo del Prado will also be consulted during the restoration process. The town of San Lorenzo de El Escorial is located about 35 miles northwest of Madrid. El Escorial is a royal complex built in the 16th century which incorporates a monastery, library and museum. news18 June 2018Can the Glasgow School of Art be saved after second fire?Anger as focus turns to cause of blaze that ripped through Charles Rennie Mackintosh’s masterpiece news8 May 2018Paris mayor wants to turn city into ‘refuge’ for works in conflict zonesAnne Hidalgo’s plan involves storing items threatened by conflict in buildings owned by the city authority El Greco’s The Adoration of the Name of Jesus (1577-79) and Pablo Picasso’s Evocation (The Burial of Casagemas) (1901) Patrimonio Nacional El Escorial / © Succession Picasso; Musée d’Art Moderne de Paris These are the questions hovering over a new mix-and-match approach to the two artists opening this month at the Kunstmuseum Basel where the exhibition Picasso-El Greco traces the impact of the Spain-based Greek painter on his France-based Spanish admirer was trained as an icon painter in his native Crete then the centre of exiled Byzantine art and a colony of the Venetian Republic and a thwarted start to a career in Papal Rome settling in the city of Toledo after failing to impress the Spanish king Philip II with his extravagant approach to religious painting Successful in his lifetime as an artist-for-hire El Greco was all but forgotten not long after his death and it look a coterie of French artists and writers in the 19th century to rediscover and promote him as a harbinger of all things modern It was this French idealisation of El Greco that made its way back to the Spain of young Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) whose Blue Period incorporated the Old Master’s elongated figures and dark-glow palette The forthcoming exhibition will be made up of around 30 strategic pairings of works by the two artists largely tracking the chronology of Picasso’s own artistic development The Blue Period section will combine The Adoration of the Name of Jesus (around 1577-79) with Picasso’s Evocation (The Burial of Casagemas) a 1901 oil painting about the suicide of his friend The ideal pairing for Evocation would be the work that directly inspired it El Greco’s monumental 1580s painting Burial of the Count of Orgaz which is permanently housed in Toledo’s Iglesia de Santo Tomé But both El Greco works revel in stylistic excess Picasso’s early debt to El Greco has long been acknowledged but it has also been assumed that his interest in the Old Master gave way to other influences that helped him move on from the Blue and Rose periods to his Cubist revolution and faded altogether in Picasso’s final decades contends that El Greco was not just a youthful crush “El Greco was Picasso’s first love,” Giménez says “And a first love always has a freshness.” El Greco's Saint Paul (around 1585) and Picasso's L'Aficionado (1912) Private Collection / Kunstmuseum Basel Martin P The centrepiece of the exhibition will be pairings of El Greco’s expressive depictions of saints with high Cubist works paired with Basel’s own The Aficionado (1912) El Greco’s highly unconventional portraits came to have special allure for the early Modernists and the final section of the show will pair El Greco’s Portrait of a Man of the House of Leiva (around 1580-85) whose direct stare is still a bit of shock with Picasso’s 1967 cartoon tribute to his favourite Old Masters bearing the subtitle Domenico Theotocopulos van Rijn da Silva Cubism may have been an overturning of centuries of western art but the Basel show argues that Picasso’s break with tradition was in fact a continuation by other means a small display at the National Gallery is focusing on the influence of Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres Picasso spent the latter part of his career obsessively revisiting a few works by Eugène Delacroix and Velázquez but one of his most successful encounters with an earlier masterpiece came in 1932 an enthralled portrait of his young mistress directly inspired by Ingres’s 1856 Second Empire portrait now a signature work of the National Gallery and his obsession bore fruit a decade later in the Walter portrait now at the Norton Simon Museum in Pasadena The London show—which will later travel to the Norton Simon—brings the works together for the first time and joins with Basel in making the case for Picasso as art history’s great torchbearer rather than Modernism’s perennial flamethrower • Picasso-El Greco • Picasso Ingres: Face to Face • To hear more about how Picasso drew inspiration from the Old Masters, listen to The Week in Art podcast here. preview15 October 2019Paris exhibition to cast El Greco in new lightSurvey at the Grand Palais aims to distance itself from the stereotypes usually associated with the artist wood-fired ovens and mountain views: eating in these restaurants in the mountains is a perfect break from the city have been gaining a foothold and expanding an increasingly higher offer (in height 📍Location:Juan de Austria street, 7 (San Lorenzo de El Escorial). At the helm of La Casa de Manolo Franco is now Manu, as he is amicably called for being the son of the founder of this restaurant in the mountains of Madrid. After traveling the world thanks to sports journalism and writing several books, Manolo Franco (son) returned home to continue his father’s legacy and give a new look to the family restaurant. Now it is a cuisine of local produce, modern, of which the Michelin Guide highlights its ambition and desire to surprise. 📍Location: Calle La Fuente, 6 (Valdemorillo). The raclette from the Swiss Alps can also be tasted in this restaurant in the mountains of Madrid. This dish has a great protagonist which is the cow’s milk cheese that is made in the canton of Valais, and in some regions of France, and as happens to the fondue, it is very strong. So it’s great to get your strength back after a long, cold walk through Navacerrada (village, not the pass). They have a fireplace if you want to add romance to the plan. 📍Location: travesía de las Huertas, 6 (Navacerrada) View this post on Instagram Yeyu is next to the central square of Cercedilla, so the plan is twofold: eat well and sightseeing in rural Madrid (without breathing the polluted air beret). In their menu they have a good offer of marinades: bonito, quail, partridge and rabbit, among others. They also have meats from the mountains of Cercedilla and a long list of spoon dishes -as is typical in the area. Sala is a large restaurant with several areas: lounge, bar, tapas area, terrace perfect for celebrations and chill out for the summer. They have specific menus for groups and the spaciousness of the space allows for meetings, but if they are known for something it is for their seafood (especially prawns). They claim to have the best in Madrid. You must also try their vermouth, even better if accompanied by the boletus and white truffle croquettes. 📍Location: carretera de los Molinos, 2 (Guadarrama). 📍Location:Carretera de las Dehesas, 33 (Cercedilla). 📍Location:Calle del Rey Juan Carlos I, 29 (Santa María de la Alameda). 📍Location:Pradillos street, 11 (Los Molinos). 📍Location: Calle de la Virgen de las Nieves, 7 (Puerto de Navacerrada). View this post on Instagram Carande is another of the restaurants in the mountains that has managed to give a twist to the traditional has worked in such renowned kitchens as DSTAgE and Zuberoa with Hilario Arbelaitz but don’t leave without ordering one of its desserts Its menu has avant-garde elaborations and presentations and the prices are adjusted to the quality offered Madrid officially became the capital of Spain during the reign of King Philip III This long history as Spain’s first city is reflected in these seven buildings though with a bias toward buildings of the 21st century Earlier versions of the descriptions of these buildings first appeared in 1001 Buildings You Must See Before You Die the Royal Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial is an enormous complex that is part basilica with its absence of decoration and carefully proportioned geometric lines Built of granite and laid out in a rectangular shape the El Escorial complex has 180-foot-high (55 m) towers at its four corners The basilica’s two campaniles are 236 feet (72 m) high To the north is a school and to the south a monastery Straight ahead lies the flat vault of the coro which leads into the dark interior of the basilica while to its south is the Cloister of the Evangelists complete with white marble statues of the apostles and one of the world’s largest garden courts A staircase at the back of the church leads down to the Kings’ Pantheon and the final resting place of the Spanish monarchs Situated in the east of Madrid, the Plaza de Toros Monumental de Las Ventas—or, more simply, the Monumental Bullring—is one of the most important buildings of its kind in the world, built to enhance Spain’s national spectacle. One of Spain’s most famous bullfighters, José Gómez Ortega, known as Joselito Espeliús had designed various hotels and theaters But Espeliús died before he could see his project realized and it was completed in 1931 by Manuel Muñóz Monasterio who later designed the Santiago Bernabéu football stadium the outside of the circular building with its horseshoe-shaped arches is adorned with ceramic tilework decoration representing the shields of Spanish provinces In the center lies the sand bullring arena The seats around the ring are divided into 10 groups of 27 rows each The bullring seats almost 25,000 spectators The arena has eight gates that allow access for the bulls and horses A triumphant bullfighter is taken out of the bullring through the largest gate global manufacturers of street furniture—benches and the like—moved their office headquarters for southern Europe and Latin America to Spain The company had already identified a site for their new office and it held an architectural competition to find a design that would suit both the company and the location came about by “recycling” the old Martini & Rossi factory a listed building that had been identified as one of Madrid’s landmark structures The 1959 factory had been designed by Jaime de Ferrater Ramoneda Its protected building status represented a 21st-century challenge: to create a state-of-the-art office while keeping the majority of the building’s original features in place Architect Carlos Ferrater became internationally acclaimed for combining urban modernism with features of local the Martini & Rossi factory featured a large flat roof was supported by sweeping arches little was changed in the factory’s interior to turn it into the J.C other than cosmetic and technological updating; the one major change was the introduction of skylights installed above the new public areas to make maximum use of natural light The spacious open-plan working areas were remodeled to provide office space the old aluminum window frames were replaced in part because they were considered a security risk now taking full advantage of the high ceilings with an impressively spacious and welcoming lobby area suggests a building plucked from mythology: a golden tower it has the appearance of the object of a quest Its seductive power stems partly from its simple elegance and partly from the fact that it is intuitively understood as a sanctuary That an inexpensive municipal building can be one of such symbolic potential is a real testament to its architects the Madrid-based practice of Abalos & Herreros The tower—a form picked for its associations with learning—is a work of striking economy as well as deception but the way the slender windows are ranked disguises this the facade continues upward one story beyond the roof to make the building seem taller than it is The facade itself is made of prefabricated panels with a platinum-colored with the result that the color of the building is constantly changing throughout the day One of its wonderful details is the way in which certain windows have sunshades that appear to open and close like the covers of a book These fixed shutters angle views toward particular parts of the city has a basic open layout with high ceilings and an extremely spare use of materials The only decorative element is the wallpaper which has an abstract pattern derived from the text of Jorge Luis Borges’s short story “The Library of Babel.” This wallpaper together with the limited daylight coming in through the slit windows in the way that it communicates the idea of a library to the surrounding community with a language that is somehow both age-old and absolutely contemporary presents an unusual variation on the traditional arrangement of having an open communal space at the center of a building to bring in light and air instead of the horizontal ground-level courtyard cutting a hole through the middle of the block on the 13th floor The site is on the northeastern edge of Madrid and the building was commissioned by the Madrid housing association EMVS MVRDV is a Dutch architectural practice known for its innovative solutions to issues of density and the provision of public space in new urban developments that showcases surprising solutions to residential density MVRDV uses the term “superblock” to describe the Mirador: the variegated finishes of the facade—stone tiles—disguise nine smaller blocks within the whole These are all seemingly “glued” together to create the building Each block offers a different type of accommodation which therefore encourages a mixed community This spectacular whole provides an instantly identifiable reference point for the surrounding area—important in a new area of the city that has been planned and built from scratch while it undoubtedly draws attention to itself the Mirador building also acts as a giant frame drawing the gaze to views of the sky and the Sierra de Guadarrama in the distance Madrid’s Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía is Spain’s national museum of modern art. It is built on the site of the San Carlos Hospital commissioned by King Charles III in the 18th century The building has undergone several stages of conversion over the years to make it into a museum space In 1980 Antonio Fernández Alba began work to restore and convert the building and at the end of 1988 José Luis Iñíguez de Onzoño and Antonio Vázquez de Castro put the final touches to the modifications whose most striking feature is three glass and steel lift towers More recently, a 86,100-square-foot (8,000 sq m) addition to the building added exhibition spaces, an auditorium, a library, cafeteria, restaurant, and administration offices. This addition, completed in 2005, was designed by Jean Nouvel noted for his ability to create structures that are sympathetic to their surroundings and for his use of steel and glass to play with shadow Nouvel replaced three buildings that lay adjacent to the museum so opening up a view of the museum’s west facade The museum’s entrance is enclosed by a steel-and-glass tower containing lighting and projection screens The tower completes a family of towers that surround the museum The original building’s stone pedestal has been extended into the new museum structure to become the floor of the exhibition spaces Nouvel’s three buildings sit around a courtyard: the library lies to the south; the auditorium and restaurant to the west; and the exhibition spaces are to the north The library captures light and shade from above using suspended Steel louvers perforated in calligraphic patterns protect the large panels of etched glass and the erotic playgrounds of Nouvel himself imposed few creative or budget restrictions The individuals and practices selected were chosen for their expertise in various fields and they worked in total isolation from one another such as the exterior bearing no relevance to the interior the floors being internalized and unrelated and the hotel itself being divorced from a wider urban context Nouvel describes the building as a clutch of little songs rather than a symphony and the sheer scale of this unique concept can only be celebrated This article was published more than 1 year ago Seclusion was the plan when we travelled to El Escorial with a mission to hike the Sierra de Guadarrama It was from Ernest Hemingway’s novel For Whom the Bell Tolls that I learned about this area of the country I was captivated by his story of the Spanish Civil War of a band of guerillas hiding in the mountains and the American Robert Jordan who joins them to plot the destruction of a strategic bridge and though what remains is not wilderness exactly to talk about the route we would follow over a week of hiking marked out with suggested routes from difficult to leisurely: From El Escorial to Cercedilla over the León pass Good roads and classy restaurants have made the sierra accessible for those who seek an easy escape from the oven that Madrid one can still walk for hours without seeing another human being is one of many settings in For Whom the Bell Tolls and is also a stop on this literary walking tour of Sierra de Guadarrama the mountains between Madrid and Segovia.THE NATURAL ADVENTURE/Supplied with all the variable weather that came along with it “It might be a little cold on the mountains,” Fernández said Are you ready for all that?” We were – packed light but smart but staying in nice hotels with breakfasts and showers; there was no need for any serious gear that night when a light rain began to fall we decamped to our hotel and finished the evening drinking red wine and reading Alice Munro stories out loud I figured: a laissez-faire attitude that worried less about extending life (a fool’s errand) than about making it better we did a circuit of the Machotas hills through a forest of oak and pine which was mixed country with no easy harmony Everywhere I looked one scene encroached on another the four great skyscrapers of Madrid rose like stalagmites We spent the next two days looking over that same land and passing the monumental crucifix of the Valley of the Fallen – a cenotaph of the civil war Spain presents a difficult schedule for hikers who want early mornings and early nights or rush the late-night suppers; one can only accept that hotel breakfasts are leisurely affairs What seems like lassitude or even stubbornness is really the capacity to endure; not through the day but over time I admired the Spanish unwillingness to be convenient It had a vigour that makes the world of 24-hour on-demand convenience look mollycoddled and foolish Yet sometimes we were too famished to wait and several nights we had a restaurant to ourselves eating fried squids and roasted suckling pig in a room of empty tables an enclave of two with no other allegiance “One of life’s pleasures is wiping up sauce with bread,” my partner said which did more for me than a thousand other conversations have Writer James Patterson on the trail of Ernest Hemingway among the scotch broom of Spain's Guadarrama MountainsSara Soares/Supplied The hills around Cercedilla gave us a tough day of fighting a stiff breeze and scrabbling over rocks scabbed with moss we reached the open space of the majalasna pasture a flat green field penned in by shoals of granite and a damp that seemed to rise from the ground which divided and tapered in repeating florets like the bronchiole of my own lungs and which moved with the breeze as though the mountain had adjusted itself to pair with my breath we stopped into the Bar Cirilo for a drink where we found Fernández waiting for us and munching on a sandwich and there was still snow on the mountaintop He had the same flushed cheeks and fingers as us the tender green breaking from their tight downhill into the Valsaín Valley to the banks of the Eresma River and blissful pools where trout had collected a squat stone bridge that was the inspiration for the one Robert Jordan sought to demolish We paused outside the small pueblo of Valsaín to sit in the shade of a thick oak tree in a pasture The ochre buildings of Valsaín were crumbling white and dun horses moved over the Castilian plain Alcazar of Segovia.The Natural Adventure/Supplied and walks through its sprawling gardens and marble statues and morning mass in the peach-coloured cathedral “I hate to leave a thing that is so good,” Robert Jordan says at the end of For Whom the Bell Tolls I felt the warmth of the body pressed against me the sound of the river tumbling over the weir If you go: Walking Hemingway’s Sierra de Guadarrama starts at $1,115. For more information, visit www.thenaturaladventure.com The writer travelled as a guest of the Natural Adventure which did not review or approve this article Report an editorial error Report a technical issue Editorial code of conduct Authors and topics you follow will be added to your personal news feed in Following Welcome to The Globe and Mail’s comment community. This is a space where subscribers can engage with each other and Globe staff. Non-subscribers can read and sort comments but will not be able to engage with them in any way. Click here to subscribe If you would like to write a letter to the editor, please forward it to letters@globeandmail.com. Readers can also interact with The Globe on Facebook and Twitter Welcome to The Globe and Mail’s comment community This is a space where subscribers can engage with each other and Globe staff We aim to create a safe and valuable space for discussion and debate If you do not see your comment posted immediately it is being reviewed by the moderation team and may appear shortly We aim to have all comments reviewed in a timely manner Comments that violate our community guidelines will not be posted UPDATED: Read our community guidelines here We have closed comments on this story for legal reasons or for abuse. For more information on our commenting policies and how our community-based moderation works, please read our Community Guidelines and our Terms and Conditions A monk walks in front of the Valle de los Caídos memorial in San Lorenzo de El Escorial It contains the graves of 34,000 victims of the conflict It contains the graves of 34,000 victims of the confli.. CHURCH leaders in Spain have criticised Socialist-backed legislation to secularise a Civil War memorial near Madrid, which houses a Benedictine abbey and the world’s tallest cross “We don’t know in detail what the government wants to do” “But we must remember the Church and the Benedictine community there have always stood for reconciliation and for all victims while the cross symbolises love and dedication.” The Cardinal was reacting to the approval last month of a new law by the Socialist-led government of the Prime Minister which will redesignate the Valley of the Fallen and require the removal of elements deemed to extol the dictatorship of General Francisco Franco (1892-1975) Meanwhile, government plans were also attacked by the Archbishop of Valencia, Cardinal Antonio Cañizares Llovera, a former Vatican prefect, who warned of deepening divisions in the traditionally Roman Catholic country “We face a historical memory which reopens wounds already healed,” the Cardinal wrote in a weekly letter “All this is being led by false shepherds and guides who disperse people instead of gathering them who exploit and instrumentalise rather than serve the common good.” who ruled Spain for four decades after the 1936-39 Civil War were reburied at the El Pardo cemetery in Madrid after being exhumed from a pontifical basilica at the Valley which also contains the graves of 34,000 victims from the conflict and is dominated by the 460-foot stone cross which will also offer reparation to “victims of fascism” the site is to be redesignated a civil cemetery has called on church leaders and the Vatican to oppose the changes as an assault on religious liberty said that it would require the exhumation of other right-wing figures from the Valley including the former Prime Minister Miguel Primo de Rivera (1870-1930) but suggested that the pontifical basilica could stay open if it reflected “democratic values” The prior of the Benedictine community that has run the Valley since 1958 even years” for the law to secure final enactment and royal assent “Although this draft law provides for the extinction of our foundation it says nothing about our community’s disappearance,” Fr Montenegro said in a letter to fellow-Benedictines “So we’ll continue our life tranquilly and normally knowing God and our heavenly Mother are watching over us” The RC Church makes up 62 per cent of Spain’s 47 million inhabitants, 2020 data show, and has also criticised government-backed laws allowing same-sex marriage, the secularisation of education, and the facilitation of state-funded euthanasia and abortion which will allow over-16s to re-register their gender through a court declaration without medical or legal procedures Mr Sanchez’s Socialist Party is also reviewing a series of 1979 agreements with the Vatican and plans to adopt a “Statute of Secularism” enforcing “strict separation between politics and religion A bioethics working group of Spain’s Evangelical Alliance criticised the government’s new euthanasia law in a report in mid-July warning that its vagueness risked placing the country on a “slippery slope” towards wider liberalisation told Mr Bolaños that Protestants would collaborate willingly in “advancing decidedly on a path towards full freedom and religious equality” the Catholic Bishops’ Conference warned that government attempts to “deconstruct and dismantle the Christian worldview” and “replace a political framework which has given Spain great stability” had “filled society with alarm and uncertainty” and risked a new confrontation between “the two Spains of dramatic memory” “Legislative initiatives by this coalition government reflect a global deconstruction project whose development puts freedom at risk and impedes essential unity,” the Conference continued the Church is obliged to denounce these attacks on freedom and justice and act as a channel of encounter and reconciliation Yet Spaniards are no longer living in a culture inspired by the Christian faith Christian truths have become incomprehensible.” It contains the graves of 34,000 victims of the conflict  Nicholas Reed Langen examines the Supreme Court ruling on gender We are a partnership of six diverse and welcoming congregations in the northern districts of Milton Keynes offering a rich tapestry of worshipping traditions – Anglican USPG is looking to appoint 3 Trustees (lay or ordained) committed to global mission within the Anglican Communion The Diocese of Gloucester is looking for a practical team member to join the Department of Mission and Ministry who brings a creative and flexible approach as we seek to develop and implement innovative approaches to collaborative ministry across the Diocese The Bishop of Lincoln seeks an ordained colleague to lead in vocational discernment within the Diocese The Diocese of London is delighted to welcome applications for the position of Area Director of Ministry (Willesden) and Diocesan Clergy Wellbeing Adviser run jointly by Sarum College and The Church Times tickets available This online seminar, run jointly by Modern Church and The Church Times discusses the theology underpinning the drive for growth tickets available Non-subscribers can read four articles for free each month A botched restoration has left yet another famous painting unrecognizable.  ACRE is an advocacy group that has publicized the botched artwork as part of an effort to change the rules around restoring paintings in the country According to a Spanish-language report in Europa Press the private collector who owned the copy hired a furniture restorer to fix up the old painting He returned the painting in an unrecognizable the restorer made another attempt to fix the painting and returned it looking even less like the original artwork Europa Press noted that the incident recalls an earlier unsuccessful restoration in Spain that famously ruined a fresco of Jesus wearing a crown of thorns and known as the Ecce Homo de Borja (it was on display in a church in Borja (According to The Guardian the wrecked aftermath of the Ecce Homo de Borja nicknamed "Monkey Christ," became a tourist attraction after the image was shared widely online.) Related: 11 hidden secrets in famous works of art Some in Spain are now calling for tighter rules on the country's art restoration market Get the world’s most fascinating discoveries delivered straight to your inbox These sorts of mistakes are surprisingly common "We're only familiar with the cases that society denounces in the press or social media but there are many instances where people who have no training meddle," Borja said.  are highlighting the case as part of an effort to change Spanish law ACRE wants to amend a rule governing the handling of art to require that only trained professionals attempt these sorts of restorations ACRE denounces the use of the word "restoration" to describe what was done to the immaculate conception painting and instead indicates this was "vandalism.") the circumstances that led to this unfortunate restoration are completely legal OFFER: Save 45% on 'All About Space' 'How it Works' and 'All About History'! Science news quiz, October 12, 2024: Do you know your meteor showers from your massive millipedes? Van Gogh's 'Starry Night' contains surprisingly accurate physics — suggesting he understood the hidden 'dynamism of the sky' May's full 'Flower Moon' will be a micromoon. Here's how to watch it rise. Fast-forward a decade, and the two met again at Andres’s aunt’s birthday dinner in Madrid. It was far from a chance encounter. “Unknown to us, his aunt had conspired for me to meet her nephew, Andres,” says Corina. “Once we arrived at the dinner, she specifically sat me down next to Andres, even though everyone else was allowed to sit wherever they wanted, which was quite embarrassing.” Fate did intervene, however, when Andres decided to visit Corina in Miami in March of 2020. The day he arrived, Europe closed its borders due to COVID-19 and he was unable to return home to Madrid. “He ended up staying in my apartment in Miami for three months, and we have lived together ever since,” says Corina. In April 2022, Andres proposed in Benidorm, a small town on the east coast of Spain. After dinner at a cliffside restaurant overlooking the ocean, they wandered down to a deserted beach. Andres asked Corina what her favorite memory was of the past two years. When she couldn’t name just one, she asked Andres the same question. After reciting some memories, he got down on one knee. “This is the most special moment,” he said. “Will you marry me?” The two married in Madrid on May 13, 2023. The Friday night before, they held a rehearsal dinner at Bibo by Dani García. A traditional Spanish dinner of croquetas and rabo de toro turned into a late-night dance party until the restaurant closed. Corina wore a backless halter dress by Elie Saab for the occasion, paired with gold earrings from her mother. On Saturday, they held their ceremony at the Basílica de San Lorenzo de El Escorial, a 16th-century UNESCO World Heritage Site that is the largest Renaissance building in the world. The bride met the groom at the altar wearing a Monique Lhuillier dress and bolero. “It was all I wanted: feminine, romantic, elegant, and, most importantly, comfortable,” she says of her dress. Corina and Andres admit they have a hard time describing exactly how they felt when they locked eyes in the church. “What we felt at that moment was something we can’t explain. I couldn’t stop smiling; I think I’ve never smiled so hard in my life before,” she says. Meanwhile, Andres—who teared up at the sight of Corina—says he had “a sort of tunnel vision.” For the couple, the ceremony hit an emotional pinnacle during the priest’s sermon. He compared marriage to building a house—an apt metaphor, as Andres is a civil engineer and Corina is an interior designer. “It was the perfect way to start our lives as a married couple,” the bride says. As the couple walked back down the aisle out of the church—while guests showered them in bubbles—a vintage Morgan car awaited. Corina and Andres hopped in to drive to their reception site of Finca El Campillo, eager for a moment of newlywed bliss alone. “We are unbelievably happy,” Carina says when asked to reflect on her Spanish nuptials. “We had our doubts about whether we should just elope—In the end, we both agreed; we would do it again if given the choice. It was the most amazing day of our lives." Emotion & Motion1/56Andres and I taking everything in before all the guests arrive at the rehearsal dinner Emotion & Motion2/56The bar was the focal point at the restaurant, with a hot-air balloon as the main element.