Pantheon of the Infantes of the Royal Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial, Mausoleum in Royal Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial, Spain
The Pantheon of the Infantes in the Royal Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial is an underground mausoleum with nine separate chapels carved from white marble. Each chapel has its own altar and houses the remains of Spanish princes, princesses, and royal children who did not ascend to the throne.
Queen Isabella II approved construction of this mausoleum in 1862 to create a permanent resting place for members of the royal family. The work was completed in 1888 after architects and craftsmen spent nearly three decades building the underground chapels.
Royal children and princes who did not inherit the throne rest in individual chapels made of white marble, each one equipped with its own altar. This arrangement follows a tradition of giving every deceased member of the royal family a dignified place without following the stricter order of the royal pantheon.
The mausoleum is located in the basement level of the monastery and can only be accessed through guided tours that cover the entire building complex. The underground rooms have little natural light, so visitors should expect dimmed illumination.
One of the chapels serves exclusively as a burial place for royal children who died before their First Communion. This chapel differs from the others because it points to the young age of those buried there and shows the importance of religious sacraments in court life.
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