The Valley of the Fallen

For our second day of our trip we woke up early and caught a tour to the Escorial (summer palace), then visited The Valley of the Fallen.

This Valley and monastery were intended to be the final resting place of Franco. However, after gifting the monastery and grounds (which were build by hand and with explosives high up in the mountains by Francos troops and forced labor from concentration camps) the church refused to consecrate the tomb Franco intended for himself.

While Franco had collected some 40-60,000 remains of fellow Republicans and interred them (intending a court of honor) the c hurch refused to concecrate the space, which for catholics is necessary to reach heaven. This left both Franco and his court of honor in limbo.

There is now a movement within Spain to try to unearth and return the fallen to their families and consecrated earth.

A very moving experience indeed!

In the afternoon we took the train to Burgos, and prepared for our first day on the Camino!