Construction of the building began in 1546, as a legacy of Don Fadrique Enríquez de Ribera, who had died in 1539.
Two years later, Hernán Ruiz II took over the works, and the building was inaugurated, although still incomplete, in 1558.
The building is on a rectangular plan, originally intended to be built around 10 courtyards, of which only nine were constructed and only eight survive as of the early 21st century.
The most distinctive element of the building is its church, situated in the central courtyard of the left side.
After being abandoned for several years, in 1986 plans were drawn up to convert it to the seat of the parliament of the autonomous community of Andalusia.