To cut waiting time, it pays to pre-purchase tickets at www. It leads to the pretty Patio del Yeso , part of the 12th-century Almohad palace reconstructed in the 19th century. The room off its northern end has an international collection of beautiful, elaborate fans. King Pedro, though at odds with many of his fellow Christians, had a long-standing alliance with the Muslim emir of Granada, Mohammed V, the man responsible for much of the decoration at the Alhambra.
These were joined by others from Seville and Toledo. At the heart of the palace is the sublime Patio de las Doncellas Patio of the Maidens , surrounded by beautiful arches, plaster work and tiling.
The sunken garden in the centre was uncovered by archaeologists in from beneath a 16th-century marble covering. To the north of the patio, the Alcoba Real Royal Quarters feature stunningly beautiful ceilings and wonderful plaster and tile work. Of the rooms, the most striking is the Salone de los Tapices , a vaulted hall with a series of vast tapestries. Beyond the Salone de los Tapices, the Patio del Crucero was originally the upper storey of a patio from the 12th-century Almohad palace.
This work is famous for being the first European piece depicting the Americas and the native people. It stands out as a stunning example of Mudejar art. This unique method consists of using Moorish styles to depict Christian elements.
At the time, it was the most popular architectural style in Seville. This patio was used as a waiting area for maidens and servants as they awaited their duties. At the Alcazar, you can step into a different century simply by walking into a new room! The part of the palace that Peter I built transitions surprisingly back into an area that dates from the time of the Catholic Monarchs, Ferdinand and Isabella. Each of the columns are different! The columns themselves come from Italica, an ancient Roman settlement outside of Seville.
The tops of each column came from Medina Azahara, a Moorish palace-city outside of Cordoba. The design of the room incorporates representations of both heaven and earth. The king himself would stand on the center stone directly beneath the dome to welcome visiting dignitaries. This significantly represented the belief that God appointed him to rule on Earth.
The balconies in this room were constructed for the wedding of Charles I and Isabel of Portugal. The couple got married here in Later, the king used the balconies to secretly spy on visiting dignitaries!
A guide to visiting the Alcazar in Seville would be incomplete without mentioning the stunning and expansive gardens. Explorers brought the seeds over from the New World. The seeds were stored in the Contracting House and planted over time.
This helped the gardens to bloom into a lush, exotic paradise. No need to say goodbye—add your email address in the form below to stay up-to-date on all things Devour Tours. Life is too short to speak one language and stay in one place. In , this philosophy took her from familiar Ohio to sunny southern Spain. Usually drinking tinto de verano , reading Lorca, or attempting to dance flamenco not all at once.
Follow her blog, Viatic Couture , for more. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed. This is a relatively short line for the Alcazar.