San Lorenzo de El Escorial is located on the southern slopes of the Mount Abantos (elevation 1753 m).

North, along the slope of Cuelgamuros [es], lies the Valle de los Caídos (Valley of the Fallen), near the border with Guadarrama.

The Aulencia river [es], born in Las Machotas, is the main tributary of the Guadarrama, after crossing the neighbouring village of El Escorial.

In its lower altitudes, about 3,000 ft (910 m), there are pastures with narrow-leafed ash (Fraxinus angustifolia); and in the forest of La Herrería grow Pyrenean oaks (Quercus pyrenaica), sweet chestnuts (Castanea sativa) and Montpellier maples (Acer monspessulanum).

There are also trees of historical significance, including giant sequoias (Sequoiadendron giganteum), planted in the 18th century in the parks and gardens of the Casita del Príncipe.

The center of environmental education Arboreto Luis Ceballos [es] houses a collection of over 200 species of trees and bushes native to the Iberian Peninsula and Balearic Islands.

The first historical references of this building date year 1558 where Philip II of Spain appointed a commission to find a proper place for the site, architects, doctors and quarrymen, among other guilds.

The development of this new hamlet was very fast, reaching a population of more than a thousand only a few years after Carlos III allowed the town's expansion.

The administrative structure designed by Philip II was blurring, first with the appointment of a governor by Carlos III—detrimental to the powers of the Lord Mayor and El Escorial's Prior—and, subsequently, with the privatization of land.

During the Spanish Civil War (1936–1939), the people remained loyal to the Republican government and briefly changed the town's name to El Escorial of the Sierra.

The number of tourists staying overnight are insignificant as in other historical cities in the region, such as Alcalá de Henares, Aranjuez or Chinchón.

In recent years, the town has attempted to consolidate hotel tourism, trade fairs, conventions and cultural and educational nature courses.

The Universidad Complutense holds summer courses to promote San Lorenzo de El Escorial as a Euroforum installations.

This is the case of the southeastern slope of Mount Abantos, which has many newly constructed neighbourhoods, especially after the August 21, 1999, fire that burned 450 acres (1.8 km2) of pine.

[7] The last legal figure, approved by Decree 52/2006 (June 21), also includes the towns of El Escorial, Zarzalejo and Santa María de la Alameda.

This building, one of the main Renaissance monuments in Spain, was erected in the last third of the 16th century on Mount Abantos at the height of 1,028 m (3,373 ft).

[9] The site occupies an area of 33,327 m² (358,829 square feet) and has 16 patios, 88 sources, 13 oratorios, 15 cloisters, 86 stairs, 9 towers, 1,200 doors and 2,673 windows.

Both were built by Juan de Villanueva as recreation sites for Carlos IV, then Prince of Asturias, and his brother Infante Gabriel of Spain, respectively.

The Spanish authorities intend to extend the UNESCO heritage declaration to the entire area that was included within Philip II's original decree.

Within the El Escorial Historic Site are various buildings and natural enclaves located within its Township and elsewhere, including Zarzalejo and Santa María de la Alameda.

Monumental sets and landscape sanlorentinos are highlighted below: San Lorenzo de El Escorial had close historical ties with the Spanish Crown, as place of residence and burial site of different monarchs from both Habsburg and Bourbon lines.

The pilgrimage of Our Lady, Virgin of Grace is without a doubt the most important tradition of San Lorenzo de El Escorial.