Valley of the Fallen, San Lorenzo de El Escorial

Keeping aside all the political and ethical aspects and history with Franco associated with the monument, just the monument by itself is breathtakingly beautiful. The cross is gigantic and the view from the place is beautiful. The Basilica is massive and marvellous, but we were told that we weren't allowed to take pictures inside.

Very nice place to see. There is a church inside and from the outside a very beautiful view of the city and the mountains. To go up to the main cross there used to be a tram but it was closed down for Covid and still hasn’t opened back up, I think you can also hike to the top but I could be wrong. Definitely recommend you go and visit.

What to write? This place is both tragic and a tribute to engineering. Franco claimed that the monument was meant to be a "national act of atonement" and reconciliation.It served as the burial place of Franco's remains from his death in November 1975 until his exhumation on 24 October 2019, as a result of efforts to remove all public veneration of his dictatorship, and following a long and controversial legal process. The monument precinct covers over 3,360 acres (13.6 km2) of Mediterranean woodlands and granite boulders on the Sierra de Guadarrama hills, more than 3,000 feet (910 m) above sea level and includes a basilica, a Benedictine abbey, a guest house, the Valley, and the Juanelos — four cylindrical monoliths dating from the 16th century. The most prominent feature of the monument is the towering 150-metre-high (500 ft) Christian cross, the tallest such cross in the world, erected over a granite outcrop 150 metres over the basilica esplanade and visible from over 20 miles (32 km) away. Work started in 1940 and took over eighteen years to complete, with the monument being officially inaugurated on 1 April 1959. According to the official ledger, the cost of the construction totalled 1,159 million pesetas, funded through national lottery draws and donations. Some of the labourers were prisoners who traded their labour for a reduction in time served.

Place with a great history and impressive construction inside the mountain, worth to visit before visiting El Escorial. Funicular wasn’t working the day of the visit, it looks like the National park must have some interesting hike trails, would worth a next visit with more free time.

Fantastic place to visit. Must see if you are near Madrid. Really awesome experience