Madrid - Palacio de Buenavista

Opposite the Palacio de Linares stands the former Palacio de Buenavista, today the Ministry of Defense. The Duquesa de Alba commissioned the architect Juan Pedro Arnal to design the palace, which, being situated on high ground, would command the Alcalá road. Building was begun in 1777 but was twice interrupted by fires. When the duchess died in 1802 the municipal authorities bought the palace in order to present it to Manuel Godoy, a powerful minister of Charles IV. Since then it has been used to house an artillery depot, the Museo del Ejército and finally the Ministry of Defense.

A well-kept park, railings and a number of military posts now separate this massive building from the heavy traffic of this busy part of Madrid.