El Escorial - Philip II's Chair

(Local Name: Silla de Felipe) On a hill 3km/2mi south of the Escorial are several blocks of stone in the form of seats, from which Philip II is said to have watched the building of the monastery/palace: hence the name Silla de Felipe II. From here there is a magnificent view of the huge building set against the backdrop of the Sierra de Guadarrama. The best way to reach the hill is to drive past the golf course on the west side of the town to a road junction with a signpost to the Silla de Felipe II.