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This monument located in the Barajas district is classified as singular by the PGOUM (General Town Planning Project for Madrid). It is one of the scarce remains of military architecture from 15th century and one of few castles that have survived the passage of time and now arises once more after a painstaking restoration process and being converted into a museum.  

Throughout history, it has undergone various transformations and had several uses. It was built as an ancient castle (around the 15th century) and was located between the medieval villages of Alameda and Barajas. Its first inhabitant was the Lord of Barajas, Juan Zapata.  Later, in the 16th century, it was transformed into a Renaissance palace and became one of the summer villas of Madrid’s aristocracy.  Over time, it was used as a Republican fort in the Civil War. The remains of what was a machine-gun nest remains alongside it.  Beneath it and in the surrounding area, there are remains of ancient settlements ranging from the Bronze Age to the Roman era.

A public park is home to remains of all these eras: the prehistoric settlement, the castle that was turned into a palace, the cemetery and the pantheon and the machine-gun nest.