Spain Destinations: A Visit To The Real Alcazar Of Seville

Declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, the Real Alcázar of Seville has been used as a place of residence for kings and important personalities. When the Arabs took over the city in the year 713, they built a fortress and a palace surrounded by a fortified wall. Later, King Alfonso X ordered the construction of a gothic palace, which is still used today as the official residence of the king when visiting Seville. It is the oldest royal palace still in use in Europe.

What To See In The Real Alcazar Of Seville

The entrance to the Real Alcazar of Seville is located in the historic centre, just behind the cathedral. You access the palace complex through Puerta del León (Lion Gate), where you see a lion wearing a cross and holding another one in its paws. Walking down a corridor with an ancient wall, you enter the first main courtyard, an open area that connects the three major buildings in the Alcázar.

One of the most impressive rooms is the Ambassador’s Hall, with its domed ceiling adorned with intricate gold details and mirrors. It was in this room, also called the Throne Room, where Kings welcomed their most prestigious guests standing on the stone below the dome.

Another extraordinary element of the Alcazar of Seville are the gardens. They are a peaceful oasis with endless paths surrounded by lush, exotic plants and water features. Some areas of the palace resemble the ones in the Alhambra in Granada, but on a smaller scale. The Royal Alcazar gardens were the ideal location for recreating the Water Gardens of Dorne, seat of House Martell in the Game of Thrones series.