Page 335 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Spain

M ADRID PROVINCE  333

craftsmen, dates from the 15th
century. Its panels depict scenes
from the life of Jesus. The lavish
Baroque camarín (chamber),
behind the altar, was designed
by Francisco de Hurtado in
1718. The cloister has impressive
paintings by Vicente Carducho.
Every Sunday, the monks sing
an hour-long Gregorian chant. If
they are not busy, they will show
you the cloister’s Mudéjar brick
vaulting and double sun-clock.
The monastery is a good
starting point for exploring the
towns of Rascafría and Lozoya.
To the south west is the nature
reserve Lagunas de Peñalara.
4 Sierra Centro
de Guadarrama
Madrid. £ Puerto de Navacerrada,
Cercedilla. @ Navacerrada, Cercedilla.
n Cuartel 1, Navacerrada, Cercedilla,
918 42 85 04.
∑ sierraguadarrama.info
The central section of the Sierra
de Guadarrama was little visited
until the 1920s, when the area
was linked by train to Madrid.
Today, the granite slopes are
planted with pines and specked
by holiday chalets. Villages such The gigantic cross at Valle de los Caídos
as Navacerrada and Cercedilla
have grown into popular resorts 5 Santa Cruz del (see pp70–71). The vast
for skiing, mountain-biking, rock Valle de los Caídos cross is located some 13 km
climbing and horse riding. (8 miles) north of El Escorial
Walkers wanting to enjoy the North of El Escorial on M600. (see pp334–5), and dominates
mountain air can follow marked Tel 91 890 54 11. @ from El Escorial. the surrounding countryside.
routes from Navacerrada. Open Crypt: 10am–6pm Tue–Sun; Some Spanish people find it
(Apr–Sep: 10am–7pm). Closed some
The Valle de la Fuenfría, a pub hols. & (free from 3pm Wed & Thu too chilling a symbol of the
nature reserve of wild forests, for EU citizens; from 4pm Apr–Sep). dictatorship to be enjoyable,
is best reached via Cercedilla. while for others its sheer size
It has a well-preserved stretch General Franco had the Holy is rewarding.
of the original Roman road, as Cross of the Valley of the Fallen The cross is 150 m (490 ft)
well as several picnic spots and built as a memorial to those high and rises above a basilica
marked walking routes. who died in the Civil War carved 250 m (820 ft) deep
into the rock by prisoners. A
number of them died during
the 20-year-plus project. Access
to the cross is currently closed
to visitors for safety reasons.
Next to the basilica’s high
altar is the plain white tomb-
stone of Franco, and, opposite,
that of José Antonio Primo de
Rivera, founder of the Falange
Española Party. A further 40,000
coffins of soldiers from both
sides in the Civil War lie here
out of sight, including those
Navacerrada pass in the Sierra de Guadarrama of two unidentified victims.

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