Day trip to El Escorial

Programs for this blog post

Spanish Language & Culture

Authored By:

Alicia Vega

The students escaped the heat with a day trip to the mountains over the weekend.

Located in the heart of the Sierra de Guadarrama (on the side of Mount Abantos), just 50 kilometres from Madrid center, San Lorenzo de El Escorial is one of the most interesting touristic and cultural towns in the area. Its main attraction is the Monastery and Real Sitio de San Lorenzo de El Escorial, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984.

The day started off at Sol where we hopped on the commuter train to our destination, which was the first time for many students. We arrived and entered the monastery around 11 am. The students entered the monastery as a group and were given an hour to explore the gardens, the basilica, the chapel and rooms filled with art by El Greco and other famous artists. After our short tour, the students enjoyed a picnic with their friends in the fresh air before heading back to the train. 

It was a great trip!