What to see in the impressive Reales Alcázares of Seville
The Reales Alcázares de Sevilla are a group of buildings and palaces in Muslim, Mudejar and Gothic styles.
Together with the Cathedral of Seville and the Archivo de Indias, they form a group declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and many people who visit it say that it reminds them of the spectacular Alhambra in Granada.
It is also the residence of the Kings of Spain when they visit the Andalusian capital and it is one of the best and essential places to see in Seville.
What to see in the Reales Alcázares of Seville
The Mudejar Palace
First, the Mudejar Palace. It is also known as the Palace of Pedro I for being the king who began its construction.
From its façade we can highlight the door with a lintel frame and the windows above it. After the entrance we find the lobby from where you can access the two patios of the palace, the Patio de las Doncellas and the Patio de las Munecas, named after the figures in some of its arches.
It consists of several rooms of which we can highlight the Royal Bedroom and especially the Hall of Ambassadors with its doors and dome.
The Gothic Palace
Another very important place is the Gothic Palace. Built by order of Alfonso X el Sabio to be his residence in 1254, its style is completely different from the previous one. It also had to be partially rebuilt after the 1755 earthquake.
Among its rooms we can highlight the Chapel, where there is an altarpiece dedicated to the Virgin of Antigua; the Gothic Room, where the wedding banquet of Carlos I was held
And the Salón de los Tapices, one of the rooms rebuilt after the earthquake and whose tapestries are actually copies of the originals found in the Royal Palace of Madrid. The so-called Baños de Doña María should also be highlighted.
The gardens of the Reales Alcázares
The gardens are another important point and it is that in palaces of this type the gardens could not be missing and walking through them is quite an experience, very pleasant also in the hot summer months of Seville.
There are numerous gardens among which we must highlight the Gardens of Mercury, where there is a large pond and the figure of the god Mercury as well as a hydraulic organ from the 17th century.
This is the essential garden to visit, but others such as the Jardin de la Troya or the Jardín de la Danza are also noteworthy.
In addition to the two main palaces and the gardens, in the Reales Alcázares there are also more places to visit.
For example, the Puerta del León, which is the main entrance and therefore the first thing you will see when you arrive, the Sala de la Justicia and the Patio de la Montería, all of them at the entrance to the complex. Practically any place in the Reales Alcázares of Seville is special and you will love it.
History of the Reales Alcázares of Seville
In the same place where this spectacular complex is located today, there was previously a Roman settlement that was later Visigothic.
In Islamic times, in the year 712, construction began on a fortress that was used as a residence for Muslim leaders.
The complex grew over the centuries but today from the Islamic era we only conserve one of the palaces.
Later, after the Christian conquest, it became the residence of the Kings of Castile and began to be remodeled in the Gothic style. It should be noted that the Mudéjar Palace became the first royal residence of the Kingdom of Castile that was not protected by walls.
The Catholic Monarchs lived in these palaces for a year and it was also the place chosen by Carlos I to marry Isabella of Portugal.
If you want more information you can find it on the official website of the Alcázar of Seville.
