Vine and Olive by Oliver Optic

Before the train stopped, the students obtained a fair view of the Escurial, which is a vast pile of buildings, located in the most desolate place to be found even in Spain. The village is hardly less solemn and gloomy than the tremendous structure that towers above. The students breakfasted at the two _fondas_ in the place; and then Mr. Mapps, as usual, had something to say to them: -

"The Escurial, or _El Escorial_ as it is called in Spanish, is a monastery, palace, and church. The name is derived from _scorie_, the refuse of iron–lore after it is smelted; and there were iron–mines in this vicinity. The full name of the building is ‘_El Real Sitio de San Lorenzo el Real del Escorial_,' or, literally, ‘The Royal Seat of St. Lawrence, the Royal, of the Escurial. ' It was built by Philip II. in commemoration of the battle of St. Quentin, in 1557, won by the arms of Philip, though he was not present at the battle. He had made a vow, that, if the saint gave him the victory, he would build the most magnificent monastery in the world in his honor. St. Lawrence was kind enough to accommodate him with the victory; and this remarkable pile of buildings was the result. Philip redeemed his vow, and even did more than this; for, in recognition of the fact that the saint was martyred on a gridiron, he built this monastery in the form of that useful cooking implement. As you see, the structure is in the form of a square; and, within it, seventeen ranges of buildings cross each other at right angles. The towers at each corner are two hundred feet high; and the grand dome in the centre is three hundred and twenty feet high.