El Real Alcázar, or the Royal Palace, was originally built as a fortified Arab palace during the period of Muslim reign in Spain (711-1492). After the Reconquista, Spanish royals took the palace as their home and expanded and modified the grounds.
The Alcázar is my favorite site in Sevilla. Its reputation is largely overshadowed by the Alhambra, a massive Arab palace built in the mountains of Granada, which also happens to be the most visited site in all of Spain. The Alhambra is impressive, although I was more struck by the grand fortress' mountainous location than by the intricate designs of its interior. The Alcázar's interior is a true example of mudéjar architecture and design, and its surrounding gardens are a peaceful hideout in the middle of Sevilla's bustling city center. (Mudéjar refers to the style of architecture in the Christian Iberian peninsula that was greatly influenced by the Moorish architectural legacy.)
And the best part is that the Alcázar is free (for students - I am one, according to my visa), which means I can explore the nooks and crannies of the palace and gardens whenever I may feel like it.
You cannot leave Sevilla without visiting the Alcázar and spending a few hours wandering through a palace with gorgeous gardens, intricate workmanship, and more than 1,000 years of history of Christian and Muslim Spanish history.
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The Alcázar is my favorite site in Sevilla. Its reputation is largely overshadowed by the Alhambra, a massive Arab palace built in the mountains of Granada, which also happens to be the most visited site in all of Spain. The Alhambra is impressive, although I was more struck by the grand fortress' mountainous location than by the intricate designs of its interior. The Alcázar's interior is a true example of mudéjar architecture and design, and its surrounding gardens are a peaceful hideout in the middle of Sevilla's bustling city center. (Mudéjar refers to the style of architecture in the Christian Iberian peninsula that was greatly influenced by the Moorish architectural legacy.)
And the best part is that the Alcázar is free (for students - I am one, according to my visa), which means I can explore the nooks and crannies of the palace and gardens whenever I may feel like it.
You cannot leave Sevilla without visiting the Alcázar and spending a few hours wandering through a palace with gorgeous gardens, intricate workmanship, and more than 1,000 years of history of Christian and Muslim Spanish history.
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the gardens contain a labyrinth:
view of La Giralda from the palace gardens:
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