The Valley of the Fallen is a memorial complex in the suburbs of Madrid dedicated to the memory of the victims of the bloody Civil War of 1936-1939. For modern Spain, it is an extremely controversial object: the actual organizer of the military conflict, Francisco Franco, after his victory, buried about 40 thousand dead Francoists and Republicans here as a sign of the end of the three-year slaughter and reconciliation of the parties.

At the foot of the Sierra de Guadarrama, an hour's drive from Madrid, lies the ancient palace and monastery of Escorial. At first glance, the structure impresses with its grandeur, but not everyone has the same reaction. Some called Escorial an "architectural nightmare", others - "the eighth wonder of the world". Today, Escorial is a cultural heritage of Spain, a major museum and architectural treasure.