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In the first half of the nineteenth century, Lázaro Rojas gave his baptized godson Francisco Solano López the property where the palace is located. After his famous travels in Europe, Francisco brought with him several architects and engineers, who helped develop works of progress in the country. By order of Carlos Antonio López, president of the Republic since 1842, one of these works was the residence of his son. The construction, planned by the Hungarian Francisco Wisner, was started by the English architect Alonso Taylor in 1857.



The materials for the construction of the palace came from several places in the interior of the country, stones from the quarries of Emboscada and Altos, wood and odrajes from Ñeembucú and Yaguarón, bricks from Tacumbú, cast iron pieces from Ybycuí, etc.



Several European artists came to Paraguay to take charge of the decoration of the building. Artists such as the English engineer Owen Mognihan who was in charge of carving the necessary figures to create a palatial atmosphere, the Italian Andrés Antonini who came to Paraguay exclusively to design and establish the marble staircase of the Palace that communicates to the second floor, the painter Julio Monet, French, who painted the ceiling with floral decorations and figures.



It was during the government of Juan Gualberto González that the great restoration works of the Palace began, which lasted only two years. The building ended up recovering its former glory. Nevertheless, González was deposed in 1894 by a coup d'etat and never could inhabit the Palace. His successor, Marcos Morínigo, did not stay for a long time in power, so he never lived in the residence. It was not until the arrival of Juan Bautista Eusquiza that the effective function of the Palacio de los López as the seat of the national government in 1894 was realized. It was also until the middle of the 20th century. residence of the President of the Republic and his family.



The Palacio de los López, also usually called the Government Palace, the Presidential Palace or simply the Palacio de López, is the seat of government of the Republic of Paraguay, because the official office of the President of the Republic is located there. It is one of the most beautiful and emblematic buildings of the Paraguayan capital, Asunción.



Currently, the Palace offers a great show during the night thanks to its great lighting. President Fernando Lugo normally sleeps in his simple home located in the neighboring city of Lambaré. However, it has a room where it sometimes rests, just like in Mburuvicha Róga, home to the presidents of the country for more than 50 years.



The Palacio de los López has been designated as Treasury of the Material Cultural Heritage of Asunción, on the occasion of the election of Asunción as the American Capital of Culture 2009.

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