What is the architecture style of El Escorial in Spain?
The Herrerian style was the official architecture of the Habsburgs, from the reign of Philip II. The sociopolitical impact meant the construction of the Monastery of El Escorial (1563–1584) facilitated its expansion.
What is El Escorial known for?
Built between 1563 and 1584 by order of King Philip II (who reigned 1556–1598), El Escorial is the largest Renaissance building in the world. It is one of the Spanish royal sites and functions as a monastery, basilica, royal palace, pantheon, library, museum, university, school, and hospital.
Who was the architect of El Escorial?
Juan Bautista de Toledo
One of the largest religious establishments in the world (about 675 by 528 feet [206 by 161 metres]), El Escorial was begun in 1563 by Juan Bautista de Toledo, a Renaissance Spanish architect who had worked earlier in Italy, and was completed after his death in 1567 by Juan de Herrera.
What architectural orders are represented in this façade of El Escorial?
Its façade is of an ecclesiastical type derived from Serlio, with two orders of superimposed columns and a pediment. Beyond the bare, austere, rectangular Patio de los Reyes are the basilica and the private royal apartments built around the Patio de los Mascarones.
What is Escorial Spain?
The Escorial is a vast building complex located in San Lorenzo de El Escorial, near Madrid, in central Spain. The building is the most important architectural monument of the Spanish Renaissance. Construction of El Escorial began in 1563 and ended in 1584.
What lies on the main axis of El Escorial?
The building is structured around a main axis that extends eastwards from the main façade through the Library, the Kings’ Courtyard, the Basilica, and the Palace of Felipe II. In addition, the complex includes a Monastery, a Seminary, a School, and the Kings’ Pantheon beneath the high altar of the Basilica.
Why was the Escorial built?
Construction of El Escorial began in 1563 and ended in 1584. The project was conceived by King Philip II, who wanted a building to serve the multiple purposes of a burial place for his father, Holy Roman emperor Charles V; a Hieronymite monastery; and a palace.
Where are the Spanish monarchs buried?
NARRATOR: For centuries the kings of Spain governed the most powerful stronghold of Catholicism in Europe. The final resting place for most of these rulers is the imposing Royal Monastery of San Lorenzo del Escorial, in central Spain.
What is Escorial wool?
Escorial is a rare and luxurious wool with a history stretching through the centuries. Escorial is distinctive to all other natural fibres, it has a unique helical crimp within the heart of the fibre, performing as a naturally coiled spring.
Why is it called El Escorial?
The new monastery, which received its foundation charter in 1567, was named San Lorenzo el Real del Escorial, after St Lawrence of Rome, a martyr of supposed Hispanic origin, and was intended to serve as the royal pantheon.
What does Escorial mean in history?
Escorial in American English (ɛsˈkɔriəl ; Spanish ˌ ɛskɔˈʀjɑl) noun. huge quadrangle of granite buildings near Madrid, built (16th cent.) by Philip II of Spain: it encloses a palace, church, monastery, etc.
What is a Pudridero?
Initially, the remains are taken to one of two decaying chambers (pudridero), where they are placed into a leaden urn and remain for 20 to 30 years. These urns are then interred into the marble sepulchers, or tombs, in either the Pantheon of Kings or the Pantheon of Infantes. ******************** The Pantheon of Kings.
What style of architecture is El Escorial?
His design for El Escorial may have been especially influenced by Romano’s Palazzo Te in Mantua, which also incorporated classicizing architectural elements. El Escorial’s severe style is sometimes referred to as “Herreresque” in honor of Herrera.
What is the Escorial Monastery?
The Escorial is an immense monastery and mausoleum located about 52 kilometres (32 miles) north west of Madrid. But it is more than just a monastery or mausoleum. It is in fact a royal monastery and the most outstanding example of Renaissance architecture in Spain.
What is San Lorenzo de El Escorial?
Located near Madrid, San Lorenzo de El Escorial is an imposing architectural complex that is arguably the most ambitious monument constructed during the Renaissance in Spain. Construction started in 1563 after King Philip II of Spain decided to commission a funerary monument for his father, the Holy Roman Emperor, Charles V.
How long did it take to build El Escorial?
The project was so complex that it took more than a decade to complete, and approximately a thousand people worked on it during its peak construction period. El Escorial is often described as severe or somber in appearance, with a symmetrically organized plan and a largely unornamented exterior.