Casita del Príncipe (Prince's Cottage)
Hidden in the Jardines del Príncipe below the monastery, this exquisite neoclassical pavilion was built in 1772 by Juan de Villanueva — the same architect who designed the Prado — as a pleasure retreat for the future Carlos IV. Barely known outside Spain, it contains one of the finest collections of decorative arts in the Madrid region, crammed into rooms that feel almost too beautiful to be real.
The Interiors
The rooms are a riot of Pompeian frescoes, silk wall hangings, Neapolitan porcelain, marquetry floors and carved mahogany furniture, all in near-original condition. The Sala de Billar ceiling fresco by Maella and the porcelain room lined with floor-to-ceiling Royal Naples pieces are particularly jaw-dropping.
Because visitor numbers are strictly limited and the cottage sits within a working royal garden, the experience feels intimate and genuinely exclusive — a complete contrast to the crowds at the main monastery complex 500 metres uphill.
The Gardens
The Jardines del Príncipe surrounding the cottage are a romantic English-style landscape garden of mature plane trees, fountains and rose beds, open to the public for free during daylight hours even when the cottage itself is closed. The garden path along the small stream is one of the most pleasant short walks in the town.
A second pavilion, the Casita del Infante (built for the Infante Gabriel), sits on the hillside above the monastery on the road towards the Silla de Felipe II and is also occasionally open for guided visits — check Patrimonio Nacional for combined ticket options.
More of San Lorenzo de El Escorial
Discover where to stay, what to do and the best deals for your trip.
Explore San Lorenzo de El Escorial →
