The palace began as a royal hunting lodge on the hill of El Pardo.[1] It became an alternative residence of the kings of Spain until the reign of King Alfonso XII of Spain, who died in the palace in 1885.[2]
King Henry III of Castile ordered the building of a small castle in 1406, on Mount El Pardo, because of its abundant game. In the 1540s, on the orders of Emperor Charles V, it was transformed into a palace by the architect Luis de Vega, who built a small, traditional alcázar with a moat. The palace was completed by Philip II, who introduced Flemish-style slate roofs.[3]
On 13 March 1604, a massive fire destroyed many of the paintings the palace housed, including masterpieces by Titian. Phillip III entrusted the rebuilding of the palace to Francisco de Mora.[4] Philip continued his father's decorative ideas, commissioning a number of frescoes. Philip V lived there for three months a year during the winter, and altered the palace to accommodate the court.[3]
King Carlos III of Spain renovated the building in the 18th century, appointing his architect Francesco Sabatini to undertake the job and add additional courtyards.[3]
The interior decoration includes a ceiling frescoed by Gaspar Becerra, and paintings by Vincenzo Carducci and Cabrera.
In 1739 the palace hosted talks between the governments of Great Britain and Spain, who eventually agreed to the Convention of Pardo in a bid to avert a war. However, the Convention failed to prevent the War of Jenkins' Ear from breaking out shortly afterwards.
Dictator Francisco Franco commandeered the palace as his residence after the Spanish Civil War and lived there until his death.
