www.budgetplaces.com The Royal Palace of El Pardo (in Spanish, Palacio Real de El Pardo), not to be confused with the Prado, is a short venture outside the city to the leafy suburb of El Pardo. This opulent palace was begun in 1406 as a countryside retreat by King Enrique III as the surrounding area was a rich hunting ground for game. It was later transformed into a palace in 1547 by Carlos I and expanded and made more opulent through the years. It served as a second home to royalty until Alfonso XII died there in 1885. The Palacio Real de El Pardo was occupied once more: after the Spanish Civil war Spanish dictator Francisco Franco lived here until his death, after which it was used to house visiting heads of state. During the palace’s lifetime, it suffered a fire which tragically destroyed several masterpieces by Titian. Works by Goya however still survive. The Palace of Zarzuela forms part of the complex of residences at the site and is the residence of the current King Juan Carlos of Spain. El Palacio Real del Pardo, que no debe ser confundido con El Prado, está a las afueras de Madrid. Este palacio opulento empezó a construirse en 1406 como refugio rural del rey Enrique III, ya que el área circundante era un coto de caza de la aristocracia. Más tarde, en 1547, Carlos I lo transformó en palacio y fue ampliándose con mayor lujo a lo largo de los años. Sirvió como segunda residencia de la realeza hasta que ...