Real Alcázar de Sevilla

Today's foray into Spanish history, to the Real Alcázar, will most likely be our last as we prepare to leave España for the next chapter of our travel tale which will unfold in France.

Described as "A magnificent marriage of Christian and Mudéjar architecture", Seville’s royal palace complex is a beautiful and unique place to spend an afternoon.
The site, which was originally developed as a fort in 913, has been revamped many times over the 11 centuries of its existence, most spectacularly in the 14th century when King Pedro added the sumptuous Palacio de Don Pedro, still today the Alcázar’s crowning glory. More recently, this palace, like so many places nearby, featured as a location for the Game of Thrones TV series.
"The Alcázar started life in the 10th century as a fort for the Cordoban governors of Seville but it was in the 11th century that it got its first major rebuild. Over the years, the original fort was enlarged and a palace was built. Subsequently, the 12th-century Almohad rulers added another palace. The Christian king Fernando III moved into the Alcázar when he captured Seville in 1248, and several later monarchs used it as their main residence. Fernando’s son Alfonso X replaced much of the Almohad palace with a Gothic one and then, between 1364 and 1366, Pedro I created his stunning namesake palace."


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. So when Pedro decided to build a new palace in the Alcázar in 1364, Mohammed sent many of his top artisans. These were joined by others from Seville and Toledo. Their work, drawing on the Islamic traditions of the Almohads and caliphal Córdoba, is a unique synthesis of Iberian Islamic art.


Having just toured Granada's spectacular Alhambra, I was enamored with the Mudéjar architecture vs. the more 'modern' styles.











The gardens were a surprise oasis in this city of almost 700.000. If we had more time, and energy, we would have spent the day getting lost in the hedge maze.




Interestingly, this is still a royal palace. As a matter of fact, in 1995 it hosted the wedding feast of Infanta Elena, daughter of King Juan Carlos I, after her marriage in Seville’s cathedral. The Cuarto Real Alto (Upper Royal Quarters), the rooms used by the Spanish royal family on their visits to Seville, are open for guided tours though we didn't visit this time.
Steve chose to sit this final explore out as he and I both have colds and it was 90°. It's hard to believe that our highly anticipated 22 days of frolicking about Spain with our son, his wife, and their two cherubs is coming to an end. This family adventure has exceeded all our expectations. We've experienced so many highlights... Wow. The daily interactions have filled our time with unforgettable memories, too. When I was a child, I traveled to Europe to see my big brother who was stationed there. It helped define me and turned me into a traveler. We hope we've had that impact on this trip. Regardless, it has been thoroughly amazing.

Walt Streightiff was 100% right when he said, “There are no seven wonders of the world in the eyes of a child. There are seven million.”

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1 comments:

Four Points Bulletin said...

Love those Muslim gardens, I would recognize them anywhere. When I took a Spanish history class in college I had no idea (when I signed up) it would make me appreciate and understand Muslim rule in Spain! The influence throughout Southern Spain is so prominent. Love it all.

June 20, 2024 at 7:39 AM

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