National Palace and its functions

By Marilú Acosta

Built over the houses of Moctezuma (Tenochtitlán 1467-1520), the now National Palace was constructed between 1522 and 1550, as the house of Hernán Cortés (Medellín 1485-1547). His son, Martín Cortés (Cuauhnáhuac, 1532-1589), sold it to Felipe II (Valladolid, 1527-1598) in 1562. A great fire almost completely destroyed it in 1692. It was abandoned for a couple of decades and in 1711 they began its reconstruction. After the Independence (1810-1821) it was called National Palace and became the seat of the 3 branches of government: executive, legislative and judicial, being also, between 1822 and 1884 the personal residence of those who governed Mexico. From 1884 to 1968 it was the presidential office. In 1926 a third floor was added.

Since 1987 it has been a World Heritage Site. In 2012 it returned as a presidential office. Although the Kingdom of Spain recognizes after the Independence that the National Palace belongs to the Mexican State, the country did not have in its possession the notarial act of the title deed of the National Palace, in 2012 the investigations to find the title deed are concluded and finally it is given to the Mexican State.