El Escorial is more than a monument to the zeal of Spain's Catholicism; it is also a symbol of Spain at its imperial apogee. This imposing, granite edifice was built by King Philip II to celebrate Spain's victory over the French at Saint-Quentin on August 10, 1557.Paid for with New-World gold, this sprawling monastery-palace is laid out in a vast grid of corridors and courtyards. At its heart is the austere Doric basilica of San Lorenzo el Real - beneath which are the remains of eleven Spanish kings, including Philip.The story of this fascinating, enduring symbol of Spain's monarchy is vividly told by historian and bestselling author Mary Cable - from its actual construction to the dramatic lives and history of its rulers.Today, El Escorial is recognized, just as it was by Philip's contemporaries, as "la octava maravilla del mundo" - "the eighth wonder of the world."