San Lorenzo de El Escorial is the second most popular tourist destination within the Region of Madrid, second only to the city of Madrid. Every year tourists from all over the world are attracted to the Royal Monastery, a splendid Renaissance monument that symbolises the grandeur of the Spanish Empire in the 16th century, when the sun never set.

In its shadow, we find valuable cultural, natural and intangible heritage framed by the fence that delimits the Historical Territory of Philip II, meaning the extensive area acquired by the king in the 16th century to sustain the Royal Monastery. A large portion of this area is now part of the Natura 2000 Network, especially the Abantos Pine Forest and the Herrería Forest. Around this extraordinary monument, King Carlos III developed the Real Sitio (Royal Palace), which was subsequently recognised as a Historic-Artistic Site. Along its streets we can see numerous 18th century buildings, together with an impressive range of restaurants and tourist amenities (accommodation, activities, etc.). All of this is surrounded by the cultural atmosphere generated by the Auditorium Theatre, the Royal Coliseum of Carlos III, the summer courses going on at the Complutense University, numerous festivals that will surely interest tourists, and the hustle and bustle of this great little city.