The place of interment for the royal family of Spain, is called the Pantheon. It is below the church, and is perhaps the most splendid part of the Escurial. The descent is by 59 steps, xvhic h form the first staircase. Its walls and arches are encrusted with the finest mar ble, and it leads to a landing place of a round form, de corated in a similar manner. After continuing to de scend some stairs, we discover a beautiful front, formed by 10 marble Doric columns, the ornaments of which are all of gilt bronze. On each side are placed two al legorical statues of bronze, one representing Human Nature, and the other hope. After descending 34 steps, we advance to the apartment, where the remains of 43 infants and infantos are interred. In another apartment, beneath the chancel, and still more magni ficent, are interred the remains of the kings and queens. It has the form of an octagon, and is 31 feet in diame ter and 33 feet high, and is incrusted with beautiful marbles of various colours, and decorated with gilt bronze. The door is in one of the angles, and imme diately opposite to it is the altar ; the other six angles arc separated by 16 double Corinthian pilasters. In tile intervals are arranged 24 urns or tombs, four being in each angle. There are other two beyond the entrance, resting on the claws of a bronze lion, and both of mar ble. Sovereigns, principally of the Austrian dynasty, occupy fourteen of these tombs, each sepulchre having an appropriate inscription. Only two of the princes of the French line are interred here. A large bronze lamp, surrounded with 24 chandeliers, hangs from the centre.
On the east and south of the palace are a series of gardens supported with walls, and laid out in terraces, which give them the appearance of hanging gardens. The ground is very unequal, and the greater part of them are disposed in the form of an amphitheatre. In geniously constructed stairs form the communication between the gardens.
A beautiful road, about a quarter of a league in length, and planted on both sides with lofty elms and linden trees, leads to the village of the Escurial. A subterra
neous corridor, arched with freestone, and called the Mina, leads also to the village. Another road leads to Fresneria, a country house situated a quarter of a league to the east of the palace, and in the centre of it is a piaz za, supported by Doric columns. The road to Madrid is excellent, but is through a naked country, without fields or pastures. In going from Madrid, it first winds along the Manzanarez, and leaving the Casa del Campo, it passes Pardo, and then three houses in succession, where relays of horses are provided. It then conducts to Valde Morillo, from whence the Escurial is first seen.
The beautiful gardens of the Escurial are intersected by woods and meadows, containing numerous streams and fountains, and small lakes abounding with fish. In the middle of one of these lakes is a covered pavilion, adorned with eight columns, and encircled with a little garden bordered by a The lofty mountains which separate the province of Old and New Castile, surround the Escurial. They are dreary, bare, and uncultivated. Spacious reservoirs have been constructed in these mountains for collect ing the water, which is conveyed by an aqueduct to sup ply 92 fountains. The royal family, before the Spanish revolution, inhabited the Escurial from September to December, a season almost wholly employed in devo tion. Since the invasion of Spain by the French, the internal decorations of the Escurial have been greatly in jured, and the finest paintings have been carried to the Louvre. The position of the Escurial, according to trigo nometrical observations, is West Longitude 4° 7' 56", and North Latitude 40° 35' 56". See Townshend's Tra vels in Spain, vol. ii.; Laborde's View of Spain, vol. v. p. 143-155 ; Link's Journey through Portugal, p. 302 ; and Francisco de los Padros Description breve del MO nasterio de S'. Lorenzo el real del Escorial. (j)