What palace / monastery covering 10 acres (4.05 hectares), in the shape of a grid iron as a monument to St Lawrence, was built 20 miles (32 kilometres) south of Madrid by Philip II?
Battle of St. Quentin (1557) Spanish Netherlands to the north, where he had been the Governor since 1555. The Treaty of Cateau-Cambresis ended the war two years later. Being of a grave religious bent, Philip II was aware that 10 August is the Feast of St Lawrence, a Roman deacon who was roasted on a gridiron for his Christian beliefs. Hence, in commemoration of the great victory on St Lawrence’s Day, Philip sent orders to Spain that a great palace in the shape of a gridiron should be built in the Guadarrama Mountains northwest of Madrid. Known as El Escorial, it was finally completed in
Project of Filippo Juvarra for the Royal Palace of Madrid only imagine this monument thanks to the architect's plans. The existing Royal Palace is however one of the most characteristic and imposing royal palaces of Europe. Project of Filippo Juvarra for the Royal Palace of Madrid The Project of Filippo Juvarra for the Royal Palace of Madrid was the ambitious and first project for the Royal Palace of Madrid. The Royal Alcázar of Madrid. An alcázar closely linked to the Habsburgs, and was the residence of the Spanish Royal Family. In 1700 Charles II died childless, the last of Hapsburg kings, and finally is Philip V of the Bourbon dynasty,