This was the place of Montezuma’s old palace; before it was knocked down to make way for that of Cortes. In 1562, it became the residence of the viceroys. In 1624, the Creoles and the archbishop tried to burn it down, in revolt against the governor sent from Spain.

In 1692, it was once again the target of firebrands, during riots protesting against food shortages. Since independence, the restored building has served as the headquarters for both the presidency of the republic and the Ministry of Finance.

From 1929 to 1935, Diego Rivera raised his scaffolding here to paint his Epic of the Mexican People, a 450 square metre fresco that created a link between Quetzalcoatl and the class struggle in a panorama that puts trade unions alongside gods.