Isabel Muñoz Explores El Escorial and Cosmic Harmony in 'Las piedras del cielo'

The Galería de las Colecciones Reales in Madrid hosts 'Las piedras del cielo', an exhibition by National Photography Award winner Isabel Muñoz (born 1951 in Barcelona). The show focuses on the Royal Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial and the surrounding La Herrería forest. It is the third edition of 'Cuadernos de campo', a triennial program organized by Patrimonio Nacional and PHotoESPAÑA, sponsored by ACCIONA, which highlights natural spaces in the Royal Sites to promote environmental stewardship. Muñoz's project stems from a sensitive exploration of the territory and research into Philip II, who conceived the monastery as a cosmic symbol linked to the Temple of Jerusalem. The monarch gathered advanced knowledge of his era to make El Escorial a universal knowledge center, with a library, water systems, and granite quarrying. The exhibition features photography, objects, video, and installation, creating a sensory experience that treats stone as a threshold between earthly time and human transcendence. Previous editions included 'Los ingenios del agua' by Javier Vallhonrat (first) and 'Las horas del sol' by Bleda y Rosa (second). The show runs until September 6 at the Galería de las Colecciones Reales, Madrid.