April 24, 2022

#1 The Royal Alcazar of Seville

The Royal Alcazar of Seville or Real Alcazar de Sevilla is a Royal Palace built on the remains of a prior Muslim Palace and Fortress. The Castilian Palace was built for Peter of Castile who was King of Leon and Castile from 1350 to 1369. It is a Mudejar style palace which applies Islamic derived decorative ornamentation to Romanesque, Gothic, and Renaissance architecture. The upper floors of the Palace are still used by the Royal Family when they visit Seville.

I was particularly impressed by the tile work, intricate ceilings, and beautiful gardens. (Photo Credits to my wife Bi for the better photos!)

The Patio de las Doncellas or Courtyard of Maidens shown above is said to have been named after the dubious story that the ancient Moors required an annual tribute of one hundred virgins from the Christian Kingdoms of the Iberian Peninsula.

The Hall of Amassadors is also particularly interesting with a detailed gold ceiling, archways, and intricate tilework covering the walls. The hall was actually constructed as a throne room in the 11th century for Al-Mu’tamid who was ruler of the taifa of Seville in 1069–1091.

Another beautiful room is the oddly named Patio de las Muñecas or Courtyard of the Dolls. It may be named this due to the small faces carved in the arches or infants may have been raised in the room. At any rate the name does not do it justice as the room is light and airy and feels much more regal than the name suggests.

The Banos de Maria de Padilla get their name from the fourteenth-century noble lady María de Padilla, who according to legend is said to have bathed in them. She was the lover of Peter the Cruel between 1352 and 1361. However, the area was actually excavated earlier during the Almohad period (12th and 13th centuries) where the area was used as an underground garden with a pond and mitigated the hot summer days.

There are beautiful gardens that surround the palace which are segmented into numerous courtyards with ponds and water features. Some of the trees are thick and ancient and the towering walls encircling the gardens convey a sense of privacy, security, and tranquility.

The Gothic Palace is a portion of Alcazar that was built by Alfonso X in 1252-1284 and has a starkly different structure and decor. The large windows and alcoves that faced the gardens were one of my favorite aspects to this area.

In my view, Alcazar should definitely be near the top of your list when visiting Seville.

#2 Flamenco Museum, Dance Lessons, & Show!

The first Flamenco singer cantina was opened in Seville in 1881 by Silverio Franconetti and the city has deep roots in Flamenco. There is even a Museum of Flamenco which we visited downtown.

We attended a Flamenco Show but one can also frequently see Flamenco dancers and musicians performing in the streets.

Here is a quick video clip of the show as well as street performers!

#3 Seville Cathedral

Seville Cathedral, also known as the Cathedral of Saint Mary of the See was completed in the 16th century and is considered to be the fourth largest church in the world. However, it was not built from scratch but rather converted from an Almohad Mosque that was completed in 1198. The remains of several monarchs are held within the cathedral as well as the tomb of Christopher Columbus.

#4 Plaza de Espana

The Plaza de Espana was built in 1928 for the 1929 World’s Fair. It is located at the edge of the Maria Luisa Park and was designed by Anibel Gonzalez utilizing a mixture of many different styles (Art Deco, Renaissance, Baroque, and Mudéjar). The Plaza is crescent shaped with alcoves along the semi-circle wall representing each of the different provinces of Spain. In the center of the Plaza is a fountain beyond which are four bridges (symbolizing the four ancient kingdoms of Spain) that lead over the moat to the building. Today, the buildings are used for government offices but the Plaza is typically bustling with tourists, Flamenco dancers, and musicians. The tilework and ornamentation throughout the Plaza and on the buildings is amazing and quite impressive.