Palace of Canto del Pico
{{Short description|Emblematic property of cultural interest in Torrelodones, Madrid, Spain}}
{{Infobox Historic Site
| name = Palace of Canto del Pico
| native_name = Palacio del Canto del Pico
| native_language = Spanish
| image = Canto del Pico 2.jpg
| caption =
| locmapin = Spain
| coordinates = {{coord|40.5891|-3.9255|display=inline,title}}
| location = Torrelodones, Spain
| area =
| built =
| architect =
| architecture =
| governing_body =
| designation1 = Spain
| designation1_offname = Palacio del Canto del Pico
| designation1_type = Non-movable
| designation1_criteria = Monument
| designation1_date = 1930
| designation1_number = RI-51-0000343
}}
The Palace of Canto del Pico (Spanish: Palacio del Canto del Pico) is a palace located in Torrelodones, Spain. It was declared Private property in 1930.{{citation needed|date=November 2016}}
Construction and location
Initial ownership
The Count used the palace to store all his treasures. He accumulated these and there are rumours that some many have been stolen from cathedrals. Financial difficulties forced him to sell the treasures for 2 million pesetas to a US buyer {{cite web|title=Los claroscuros del Palacio de Canto del Pico y del Conde de las Almenas|url=http://www.cosasdehoyo.com/2013/10/los-claroscuros-del-palacio-de-canto.html|accessdate=19 April 2014}}
The prime minister Antonio Maura died there by falling down a flight of steps.
Civil War usage
It was used as the headquarters for the Republican Army during the Spanish Civil War. Indalecio Prieto and Jose Miaja used it as their base to organise the Battle of Brunete. After the war Franco lived there for many years.{{cite web|title=Traces of War|url=http://en.tracesofwar.com/article/48415/Canto-del-Pico-Palace.htm|accessdate=19 April 2014}}
Recent years
The palace has suffered heavily from looting and vandalism over the years, and a fire destroyed many of the remaining artworks in 1998. This led to it receiving a reduced classification in 2004. A hotel company bought it in 1988 intending to convert it into a luxury hotel.{{cite web|title=El Canto del Pico, the decay of an emblem|url=http://brujulasierra.es/3021/el-canto-del-pico-la-decadencia-de-un-emblema|accessdate=19 April 2014}} Planning permission was refused for the hotel in 2013 due to the building's value as a cultural monument {{cite web|title=El Canto del Pico will not become a hotel|url=http://quiosco.elmundo.orbyt.es/ModoTexto/paginaNoticia.aspx?id=18227817&tipo=1&sec=El%20Mundo&fecha=01_10_2013&pla=pla_11014_Madrid|accessdate=19 April 2014}}