The first Lord of the Town of Ambite was Genoese financier Don Esteban Lomelín, who granted ownership of his vast lands to his descendants. Then, in the latter half of the 16th century, Don Alfonso Cárdenas y Peralta lived in these parts. He was a knight of the Order of Santiago and a major diplomat for the Spanish Crown under Philip IV. Alfonso de Cárdenas y Peralta began his career as a diplomat in the city of Naples, firstly as Regent of the Vicariate and later as Minister of the Councils of State and War.He played a critical role in the foreign policy of the Habsburgs and was a member of the Council of the Indies; later, he was appointed ambassador to England, becoming the mastermind behind the peace treaties with Oliver Cromwell on 21 May 1655. He was appointed Viscount of Ambitefor his excellent negotiation skills.Thanks to him, the municipality became a place of rest and relaxation for the Court, and he had this palace built in1623 in Baroque style. In 1664 the title of Marquis of Legarda was granted to the descendants of Alfonso de Cárdenas y Peralta. Today, the palace continues tobe owned by the Madariaga family, who have possessed it for 104 years.
The legend of the sad princess and her century-old oak tree encina
There are heaps of old legends. One of them tells the tale of a young, beautiful princess who was held captive in the palace. As she waited for a knight in shining armour to save her, she let hertears fall onto an acorn, which sprouted in the soil and grew into the grand oak tree that currently stands next to the palace. The story goes that lovers would come to test their fate by trying acorns from the oak tree. If they tasted sweet, they would be happy. But if the acorn was bitter, they were doomed to lead an unhappy life together. There’s evidence of this oak existing as far back as when the Marquis of Legarda decided to build his palace, as shown in the documents and maps of the estateat the time. At more than 20 metres tall, it is classed as the only tree of its kind inthe Madrid Region, and is considered the second biggest in Spain.
