Also known as the Palace of the Marques de Mondragon, it is a magnificent building, and Ronda's most outstanding.
Believed to have been the residence of the Arab king Abb el Malik, son of the Sultan of Morocco. during the Arab period, the building was probably organized around the patio nearest the gorge, now the site of the garden, since the present façade did not exist.

 On 24th May 1485, King Ferdinand the Catholic entered Ronda, thence proceeding to Cordoba. He returned later with the Queen to reside in the palace, a proof that following the Reconquest it was substantially rebuilt.

During the 18th century, new outer structures were added to enclose the interior patios, which now constitute the present sandstone façade, with two small watch towers on the corners, two high windows, a magnificent entrance portal, flanked by Doric columns. The curved lintel is decorated with a central motif composed of Corinthian columns, with a small vaulted niche in the middle and over the cornice, two small pyramid figures and a bass relief urn at the apex.

 The ground floor now houses the tourist information office, located in what used to be the stables.
The first patio with a gallery on two sides, is surrounded by arches and a decorated frieze.
The second patio, in late Gothic style, is reached through a portal flanked by stone columns with ancient capitals on wooden bases.
The Moorish patio nearest the gorge, which is reached through the garden, is very original. It has a triple row of Moorish brick arches on three of its sides, supported by on marble columns. A fine moulding on the raised brick wall forms a frieze above the arches.