El Escorial and The Valley of the Fallen

This tour is about how architecture is used as a symbol of power in the XVI and the XX century alike. El Escorial, Renaissance building (the first built by the Monarchy in this style), symbol of the counter-reformation in Europe, representation of the absolute monarchy, burial place or the Royal Family since the Imperial period, library, monastery (the biggest in the world) and then the projection of Franco and his nostalgy of that period mirrored in his own project, the Basilica of the Valley of the Fallen, the most controversial building in Spain, where he was buried up to last year when due to the laws of Historical Memory, his mortal remains were removed from there. And not to forget the impressive views of the mountains from the different sites we will be visiting. Note: Mondays both monuments are closed, and sometimes, last minute, the Monastery could close, it is rare but not impossible. I would let you know.