- published: 07 Jan 2015
- views: 4582
The Royal Site of San Lorenzo de El Escorial (Spanish: Monasterio y Sitio de El Escorial en Madrid), commonly known as El Escorial, is a historical residence of the King of Spain, in the town of San Lorenzo de El Escorial, about 45 kilometres (28 miles) northwest of the capital, Madrid, in Spain. It is one of the Spanish royal sites and functions as a monastery, royal palace, museum, and school. It is situated 2.06 km (1.28 mi) up the valley (4.1 km [2.5 mi] road distance) from the town of El Escorial.
The Escorial comprises two architectural complexes of great historical and cultural significance: the royal monastery itself and La Granjilla de La Fresneda, a royal hunting lodge and monastic retreat about five kilometres away. These sites have a dual nature; that is to say, during the 16th and 17th centuries, they were places in which the power of the Spanish monarchy and the ecclesiastical predominance of the Roman Catholic religion in Spain found a common architectural manifestation. El Escorial was, at once, a monastery and a Spanish royal palace. Originally a property of the Hieronymite monks, it is now a monastery of the Order of Saint Augustine.
Black sun emerged from behind the clouds
And brought anxiety to this quiet town
When cobweb sticks to shattered fragments of their dreams
Daylight exposes filth
In secret the night covers up all sins
In darkness
We cast no shadow
In loneliness
There's no one we could follow
Engineers of soul
Make you feel so small
A cog in the machine
Distrust is the only friend that helps them to survive
Behind the door that's locked up whispers, screams and
fights
Their misty premonitions sowed the seed of fear
Old clock is ticking louder
Reminding us that the harvest is near
All anger washed away with the tide
I wish the time was on my side
The frozen gesture, a carving knife
In rear-view-mirror all my life