In the highest hill of the twelve available to the city, 548 metres, dominates the horizon of the solitary mole rectangular Alcazar. It is one of the few buildings exempt from the city.
The remains of the structures above show that has always been a place fortified since Roman pretorio and defending the Muslim citadel.The current building was built commanded by the Emperor Charles V, to have a residence worthy of the monarch. It almost completely destroyed the old medieval castle, although in the eastern facade remaining structures Almenara. Each facade of the building determines the time it artistically
takes place within the various phases of the Spanish Renaissance. His first and main architect was Alonso de Covarrubias since 1545, but in the yard and was finally intervened Villalpando Juan de Herrera, the author of the monumental staircase under barrel vault and the remodeling of the south wing houses.
The main doorway, with a round arch cushion with characteristic "mirror" of stone, topped by a shield flanked by imperial figures of the monarchs and Visigoths Recaredo Reccesuinth and topped by a triangular pediment, is the work of Covarrubias., large central courtyard surrounded by two galleries and chaired by the figure of the emperor, a copy of the work of Pompey Leoni.
 Outside presents large square towers at its corners, the north side advanced and the southern flank of the facade to flush amended by Juan de Herrera, topped with slate roofs and chapiteles black. And yet, the new palace did not become abode of kings, since long before finish, the capital was established in Madrid, but of queens, queen exactly widows, retired from the court by the successors to their husbands: Mariana of Austria, widow of Philip IV and Jeanne d'Neoburgo that it was Charles II.
It had various uses, such as the Crown prison, military barracks armies of friends and strangers, or workshops Sederer, before hosting the Academy Infantry. The building suffered several fires, caused some, as in 1710 during the War of Spanish Succession, being restored under the direction of Ventura Rodriguez, twice during the War of Independence and in 1887, this time fortuitous, before its almost total destruction September 1936.
Its reconstruction would begin in 1940, crowned in 1961 with the inauguration of the monument to the defenders of the Fortress during the Civil War, made by Juan de Avalos. For years housed the Army Museum, being adapted to house in their entirety in the near future. There were also works by empowering the upper floor of the building to the needs of modern library of Castilla-La Mancha.
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