International Travel / Spain

Royal Alcázar of Seville

by liilingon

This palace was begun after the reconquest of the Moors by the Christians. The site originally held a Visigoth basilica, which was then destroyed and replaced with a fortress by the Moors. It’s been expanded over the years by other monarchs.

The top floor of the palace is still in use by the Spanish Royal family when they are in Sevilla. We took a tour through the living space of 11 rooms (no pictures were allowed in this area). After the tour, Lara pointed out that we didn’t see any bathrooms 🙂

Entrance into the palace.
Patio del Yeso – the arches were were modelled after those of the Mezquita in Cordoba but have since faded due to sun exposure.
The original palace is in classic Mudehar style (arches with columns).
Intricate carvings are everywhere.
Entering the Casa de la Contratación (Contractor’s Room), where seafarers and navigators planned their journeys. This was where Magellan planned the first circumnavigation of the world.
Hall of the Admirals
Salones de Carlos V in the Gothic Palace.
The room is decorated with massive tapestries that depict the conquest of Tunis in 1535.
Dude looks like he’s tying himself up in a knot.
Passageways used by the King to access his private quarters?
Patio de las Doncellas, the main courtyard, where the ladies of the court (doncellas) spent a lot of time.
It is apparently based on the legend that the Muslim sultan of Cordoba demanded 100 virgins from the Christian kings annually.
This dome in the ceiling of the Hall of Ambassadors is made of interlaced wood. It was created in 1389.
Just under the dome are portraits of Spanish kings.
Courtyard of the Dolls in the Palace of Peter I.
Look up … up … up
More secret passageways used by the King.
View above
View from below
Baños Doña Maria de Padilla (Baths of Maria de Padilla). These were actually a rainwater catchment system and used to be filled with water, and was used as baths.
Solitary moment.
Exiting the baths.
Quiet break for snack and to figure out how to tackle the 100,000 square metres of gardens.
Grotto Gallery in the Jardin de lEstanque. The Gallery was built into an ancient Almohad wall and consists of both real and fake rocks.
In the Fountain of Fame is the water organ built in the 17th century. It’s only one of three that exists in Europe.
We stuck around to listen to it. The kids are watching the mechanism as it plays.

The remainder of the gardens were the best part of the Alcazar.

Can you find Lara?
Uh oh … who’s on the wrong side?!
Checking out the old defensive walls with their pipes.
Mom and baby peacock
18.4 km – we didn’t cover as much of the gardens as I’d hoped.

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