The palace originally dates back to the 15th century, although most of it was built in the 16th by the first Marquis of Tarifa. Later, under orders of the Viceroy of Naples, the architect Benvenuto Tortello was given the task of designing a new palace, leaving the old Mudejar rooms intact. The large, Renaissance patio with fountain is at the centre, with rooms and gardens distributed around it. The Great Garden was restored in the 19th century. It has two galleries or “loggias” with triple arcade set over columns and niches for busts. It also has a central pond and paths edged by hedges. The Small Garden, known as “Pretorio”, is divided into four areas with different levels, and is home to a large rectangular pond.