El Valle de los Caidos - Spain's Most Chilling Monument

Monday March 26, 2007

The Valle de los Caidos, Spanish for 'Valley of the Fallen', is one of the most impressive sights in Spain. It is an astounding feat of architecture and vision and you feel that it deserves your respect and admiration - until you discover that many, many prisoners of war died building the basilica and giant cross, a monument which is essentially just an extension of General Franco's very large ego.

El Valle de los Caidos can be found not far from El Escorial, itself an essential day trip from Madrid. However, due to the fact that getting to El Valle de los Caidos is a logistical nightmare, I have added these two sights to my Essential Guided Tours in Spain.
^{Photo © Damian Corrigan}

Suggested Reading