The Alcazar of Seville: Description and History

Andalucia » Seville » Reales Alcazares

The entrance of Reales Alcazares
(a photo by Wild Guru Larry)

The governors of Seville lived well, in style and luxury. This is what the palace complex Reales Alcazares tells us. A skillful combination of Moorish architecture and Catholic symbols, the palace is a brilliant example of the famous Mudejar architectural style. This is one of the oldest royal palaces in Europe, still used by the king of Spain. The oldest parts of Alcazar were built by the Almohad dynasty over 3 cultural layers: first one comprises the ruins of the ancient Roman acropolis of Hispalis (The Roman city which was situated on the site of nowadays Seville), the second one - an early Christian basilica and the third one - a Moorish castle. The palace we can see today was commissioned by King Pedro I The Cruel in 1362, when the building of the Nasrid palace of Alhambra in Granada started too. About a century later Isabel I added a new wing to Alcazar and another century later Emperor Carlos V a new palace opposite of the old one for a residence of his Portuguese wife.

Patio de las Doncellas
(a photo by clspeace)

Entering the complex you can hire an audio guide. Firstly you will see the splendid Patio de las Doncellas with an arcade and an exceptional incrustation over cedar wood, an original mosaic and complex stucco decoration. The second floor, a royal residence now, and the neighbor Salon de Carlos V with a beautiful mahogany Mudejar ceiling, date back to the 16th century. All details in red and gold are from the restoration in 19th century. The original Moorish and Mudejar range of colours is in blue and green. To the far side of the patio you will find the impressive labyrinth of interconnected bedrooms and audience halls. The exquisite Salon de Embajadores is in its centre. It features an exceptional cedar dome and balconies with the figures of Catholic rulers. Horseshoe-like arches lead to the brightly lit dining-room with a view over the garden. Pay attention to the graceful decoration made by Persian masters after a fire burnt the earlier hall.

The Gardens of Alcazar
(a photo by Wild Guru Larry)

Next to the Salon de Embajadores it is the marvelous Patio de las Muñecas (Patio of the dolls, named so because of its small size). It is known also as the Patio of the Queen, because it has a barrier with holes, through which the maids-of-honour watch as if in a harem. The opened upper gallery was the place of the musicians. Next to it are the bedrooms of Fernando and Isabel, and their son Don Juan.

From the chapel next to the palace of Pedro I, passing through the garden, you will enter the Palacio de Carlos V. A complete contrast in size and style to the rest of the complex, it has a not very tasteful decoration of mainly wall tapestry depicting the conquering of Tunisia in 1740. Continue to the Gardines del Alcazar (the Gardens of Alcazar) with the lovely Lake of Mercury with a decorative backdrop of volcanic rocks. The place is ideal for a pleasant walk among the aroma of magnolias, flowering orange trees and the sound of murmuring water.