El Escorial — Day Trip from Madrid
This mammoth palace and church complex, built for Philip II, impresses by its gigantic size and austere style. Among the major attractions are the Capilla Mayor, the Pantheon with the kings' tombs, the Throne Hall, the Library, and the museum in the summer palace of Philip II. El Escorial houses many important works of art including the Basilica with cenotaphs of Philip II and Emperor Carlos V, and the famous Library with over 40,000 books.