Escorial << ehs KAWR ee uhl >> is a large complex of buildings and courtyards about 30 miles (48 kilometers) northwest of Madrid, Spain. The Escorial consists of a domed church, a college, a monastery, and a palace surrounded by a wall. The Escorial was erected during the reign of Philip II. Construction began in 1563 and was completed in 1584. The complex stands as a monument to Roman Catholicism and serves as the burial place of Philip II and many other kings of Spain.
The Escorial is noted for its order, simplicity, and austerity. It is built of yellow-gray granite from a nearby quarry. The church and a monastery cloister called the Court of the Four Evangelists are especially grand in scale and character.
See also Spain (Architecture).
