Quinta del Duque del Arco

The Royal Site of El Pardo houses this estate, declared a National Monument in 1935, which is notable for its beautiful French-influenced gardens, designed in the 18th century by Claude Truchet, and for its small palace, very similar to the Zarzuela Palace. The design of its Baroque garden, in the French style, incorporates elements of Spanish and Italian taste. It features terraces, several sculptures, ponds, a waterfall, and large conifers, reminiscent of the royal gardens of La Granja de San Ildefonso. In addition, there are two redwood trees within its grounds. Initially, the estate was known as the Quinta de Valrodrigo. In 1717, it was acquired by the Duke of Arco, Alonso Manrique de Lara y Silva, Master of the Horse to the King. After his death, his widow bequeathed the estate to King Philip V and Queen Elisabeth Farnese, who incorporated it into the Royal Site of El Pardo. Throughout history, the estate has served various purposes. During the Second Republic, it was the residence of Manuel Azaña, president of the Second Republic. During the Civil War, the palace suffered extensive damage and was subsequently rebuilt between 1940 and 1941. It was inaugurated in October 1942 by Francisco Franco as the Isabel la Católica Command Academy, an instructor training academy for the Women's Section of the Falange. Currently, the palace is rented out by Patrimonio Nacional (National Heritage) for events and is therefore not open to the public, unlike its gardens, which can be visited free of charge.