San Lorenzo del Escorial and Ávila, Castilla-León

April has proven a busy month with quite a bit of traveling. Here begins the first of several blogs chronicling travels with family through the north of Spain. Several blogs on site visits within Andalusia will follow.

San Lorenzo del Escorial

Built by Felipe II in the 1500s, the Escorial was once a combination royal palace, monastery, and basilica. It also houses the mausoleum containing the tombs of Spanish monarchs. A true stone bastion in every sense, the building feels like the inside of a cavern at times. One friend has told me that the best possible translation of the name would be "slagheap."

Ávila

Perhaps best know as the town of Santa Teresa, Ávila was also registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is the only city in Spain to have preserved its medieval walls in their entirety. Also of special interest is its cathedral, which dates to the 1100s.