European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - March 12, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                The Royal City of san Lorenzo de Al escorial sits on a Hill overlooking the Small town below. A amps photos by Dave Casey Al escorial a King size Token of thanks j. Kin Cruger Mediterranean Bureau awed 16th-Century spaniards called Al escorial the eighth wonder of the world. No wonder. The escorial 30 Miles West of Madrid is an entire Royal City incorporating a Palace monastery mausoleum and Art museum in one enormous edifice. To get an idea of the escorial s extravagant scale a visitor need Only Ponder that the Complex has 100 Miles of corridors 300 rooms 16 inner courts 88 fountains 86 staircases 1,200 doors and 2,600 windows. Somewhat unbelievably a 302-foot-High domed Church larger than Many a Cathedral is nearly hidden away at its Core. The somber vast and nearly overbearing pile of slate and Stone was built at the Behest of King Philip ii son of holy roman emperor Charles v. In those Days Madrid now the Spanish capital was a Dusty no account town whose main claim was that it sat at the geographic heart of the country. Philip was a godsend for Madrid for he made it the seat of the world s greatest Empire Philip reigned in Spain during its Golden age when the plundered riches of the new world flowed freely into the country. The Melancholic Philip melancholia was the sour fruit of his hapsburg family tree had his spirits easily raised and crushed by Spain s military ups and Down. So a decisive Victory in 1557 against the French in Flanders was doubly significant a it was important for Spain and for Philip s mood. In thanks Philip began construction of the Royal monastery of san Lorenzo de Al escorial in a Barren wilderness at the base of the Bleak Guadarrama mountains. The King named the Monument in Honor of the Spanish Saint a St. Lawrence a whose feast Day aug. 10, was the same Day his forces Defeated the French. As 1,500 men toiled on the project Philip watched from a seat carved from a Rock on a nearby Mountainside. The project took 21 years to Complete a relatively Short time for a building its size resulting in a rare Unity of style. For the consecration ceremony the Bone coloured Monolith was illuminated with 200,000 Oil lamps casting a glow that reportedly could be seen 50 Miles away in Toledo. It takes about three hours to explore rectangular escorial Spain s largest Renaissance Structure. Tapestries by frescoes line the Walls and ceilings of the Library which has More than 40,000 editions in original latin Creek arabic and hebrew. Francisco Goya and paintings by Al Greco Peter Paul Rubens Titian ii Tintoretto and Velazquez line its Walls. The monastery s Library now closed for renovation is housed in a fantastically frescoes chamber. Regarded As one of the most important reserves of its kind the Library has 40,000 rare books including the diary of St. Teresa of Avila As Well As intricately illuminated manuscripts. Philip is buried in the Royal pantheon an awesome crypt containing 26 Sarcophagi holding the remains of nearly All the Kings of Spain from Charles i to Alfonso Xii stacked in tiers of four on Black Marble shelves. Nearby Chambers Are Given Over to lesser Royal personages with a depressing area devoted entirely to princes and princesses who died in childhood. Within the escorial Philip Dweller in a tiny spa Tanly furnished bedroom and study that were More like a monastic cell than a mighty Monarch s chamber. The ascetic King liked to say that from these rooms he ruled the world with a few scraps of paper. By gazing through a window in his Alcove Philip could look into the Basilica and see the priest celebrating mass at its High altar. Philip died in his bedroom in 1598 and As he was dying he spent much time contemplating the altar from his bed. The Church a enormous cold and Grey a is the Core of Philip s brooding pile. It boasts a masterpiece of 16th-Century italian sculpture a life size Crucifix Hen 6 stripes Magazine March 12, 1992