Severe, austere and imposing, the 16th century El Escorial is part-monastery, part-palace, built to house the remains of the Spanish royal family.
Madrid: El Escorial
Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia: Sé Catedral and Mosteiro da Serra do Pilar
Of all the incredible ecclesiastical buildings we saw in Porto, two stood out – the Sé Catedral do Porto and the Mosteiro da Serra do Pilar in Vila Nova de Gaia.
Gloucester
The Romans, the royals and the Georgians have all left their mark on this ancient English city, resulting in a curious mix of the old and the new.
Lisbon: Mosteiro dos Jeronimos
The magnificent monastery is one of Lisbon's most popular landmarks. Affiliated with the Order of St Jerome, it's the resting place of Portuguese monarchs and poets, as well as the legendary explorer Vasco de Gama.
Lisbon travel guide
Historic sites, interesting museums, spectacular day trips and mouthwatering food – Portugal's cool, laid-back capital has it all.
London: The Charterhouse
This medieval Clerkenwell manor with a storied past has been a monastery, a Tudor house and since the 17th century, an almshouse.
Little Old World 