The Valley of the Fallen is a monument located in San Lorenzo del Escorial, 37 miles from Madrid, and erected in honor of those who died during the Spanish Civil War. It is also the mausoleum of the Spanish dictator Francisco Franco, regarding this function the monument is possibly the most controversial structure in Spain. The quasi underground Benedictine abbey is the base of the huge cross 500 feet tall. Such dimensions turn the cross is the world’s largest cross and the basilica, 850 feet long, the longest in the Christian world.

This unique structure was built between 1940 and 1958 using political prisoners of the Franco regime as workers. Its designers are the architects Pedro and Diego Mendez Maguruza, although the sculptures accompanying the cross are a Juan de Avalos y Taborada creation. Together with the Universidad Laboral de Gijón, it is the most prominent example of the original Spanish Neo-Herrerian style.

Are you interesting in visit The Valley of the Fallen? You can do it included in a half-day tour including also El Escorial monastery or included in a full-day tour including El Escorial monastery and a walking tour in Toledo.