The Royal Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial is a vast complex of palace, monastery, basilica, library and royal tomb in the hills northwest of Madrid. King Philip II of Spain laid the foundation stone in 1563, partly to commemorate the Spanish victory at Saint-Quentin in 1557, which had taken place on the feast day of Saint Lawrence. The first architect was Juan Bautista de Toledo, and after his death Juan de Herrera finished the building in a severe classical style that became known as the Herreran style. The complex served as a monastery of the Hieronymite order, a seat of government, and the burial place of most Spanish monarchs since Charles V. It was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984.
Before and after
- 22 January 1561Birth of Francis Bacon
- from 2 April 1562 to 30 April 1598French Wars of Religion
- 25 November 1562Birth of Lope de Vega
- from 1563 to 1570Northern Seven Years' War
- 1563Construction of Royal Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial
- from 1564 to 1883Construction of Tuileries Palace
- 15 February 1564Birth of Galileo Galilei
- 18 February 1564Death of Michelangelo
- 23 February 1564Birth of Christopher Marlowe
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The era
This moment belongs to the Early modern world (1500 CE to 1760 CE), voyages, printing and new ideas. You can also browse everything in the 16th century.