Basilica de la Santa Cruz del the Valle de los Caidos (Valley of the Fallen) and the Monasterio de El Escorial, Madrid.

A morning of mixed feelings and an afternoon in a more beautiful place.

Basilica de la Santa Cruz del the Valle de los Caidos.

Jayne and I went across country and through the hills to our first stop of the day at the Valle de los Caidos, a rather controversial but spectacular monument near San Lorenzo de el Escorial. I am not going to say much more about this place but more information about this site can be found here.   

Goldcrest (Reyezuelo Sencillo / Regulus regulus).

The area around this monument is wooded and very pleasant and during our walk round I saw Goldcrest (Reyezuelo Sencillo / Regulus regulus), Firecrest (Reyezuelo Listado / Regulus ignicapillus), Nuthatch (Trepador Azul / Sitta europaea), Short-toed Treecreeper (Agateador Común / Certhia brachydactyla), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Pico Picapinos / Dendrocopos major), Iberian Green Woodpecker (Pito Real / Picus sharpei), Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra), Common Chaffinch (Pinzón Vulgar / Fringilla coelebs), Coal (Carbonero Garrapinos / Periparus ater), Blue (Herrerillo Común / Cyanistes caeruleus), Long-tailed (Mito / Aegithalos caudatus) and Great Tits (Carbonera Común / Parus major), Iberian Magpie (Rabilargo / Cyanopica cyanus), Stock Dove (Paloma Zurita / Columba oenas), Raven (Cuervo / Corvus corax) and Griffon Vulture (Bultre Leonado / Gyps fulvus).

Common Crossbill (Piquituerto Común / Loxia curvirostra).

Next came lunch which we had in El Escorial before spending nearly 3 hours going around the stunning Monasterio de El Escorial where we took the audio tour. Later we went back to Segovia and had our meal in the town.

Real Monasterio de San Lorenzo de El Escorial.

Real Monasterio de San Lorenzo de El Escorial.