Hernán Cortes, the conqueror of Mexico, built this government palace on the site of Moctezuma’s residence. The Palacio Nacional that we see today dates back to 1693, although a floor was added in the 1920s. Inside there is a wonderful collection of murals by Diego Rivera. The most famous one is the “Epic of the Mexican People in their Struggle for Freedom and Independence”, where two thousand years of history are condensed into the space of an enormous wall. The palace also houses a small museum dedicated to Benito Juárez and the Mexican Congress.