The palace where Prime Minister Antonio Maura died

The Palace of Canto del Pico stands atop a granite peak 1,011 metres above sea level. Constructed between 1920 and 1922 for Abárzuza, Conde de las Almenas III, this 100 acre estate features architecture where portions of the stairs and balconies remain carved directly into the rock.

The Count utilized the palace as a vault for his private treasures. While rumours suggest some items were stolen from cathedrals, financial difficulties eventually necessitated a sale to a US buyer for 2 million pesetas. It was also the site where the prime minister Antonio Maura died after falling down a flight of steps.

During the Spanish Civil War, the palace served as the headquarters for the Republican Army. Leaders Indalecio Prieto and Jose Miaja used this base to organize the Battle of Brunete. In the years following the conflict, Francisco Franco lived there for many years.

Today, the palace is a ruin that has suffered from looting and vandalism over the years. A fire in 1998 destroyed many of the remaining artworks. Although a hotel company bought the palace in 1988 and attempted a conversion, planning permission was refused in 2013 due to the building's value as a cultural monument.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons