Guided tour of the Royal Alcazar of Seville

Guided tour of the Royal Alcazar of Seville, an oasis with over a thousand years of history

I am your official tour guide, and in my guided tour of the Royal Alcazar of Seville, I want to show you one of the oldest palaces in Europe that is still in use. We will start with the Hall of Justice and the Plaster Courtyard. I will take you to explore these two rooms, which are a true window to the building’s past, where we can see the remains of an initial Islamic Alcazar and its immediate transition to Christianization.

We will walk through the Courtyard of the Maidens and the Courtyard of the Dolls, the Hall of Ambassadors, and the Mudejar Palace, as well as the House of Trade, the Admiral’s Room, and the Chapel. During the guided tour, you will be able to admire the Islamic-Mudejar, Gothic Renaissance, and Baroque styles of the different rooms of the Alcazar. In addition, you can stroll through the gardens of the Alcazar of Seville from Game of Thrones, surrounded by orange trees and palm trees, with fountains and pavilions where you can breathe freshness and tranquility.

Dramatized visit to the Alcazar of Seville

From June 9th to October 21st, 2023, you can enjoy a dramatized visit to the Alcazar of Seville. This time under the theme ‘Forgotten Women in the History of the Royal Alcazar,’ presented by the Classic Theater Company of Seville. To get tickets, you can check this LINK.

Concerts and Night Visit to the Alcazar of Seville

The Patronage of the monument has published the 24th Cycle of Concerts “Noches en los Jardines del Real Alcázar de Sevilla,” which will take place from June 22nd to September 16th, from Monday to Saturday. Thanks to these concerts, you can experience your own Night Visit to the Alcazar Night visit to the Alcazar of Seville.

There will be 75 nights to enjoy, discover, and be moved by flamenco, European roots music, various world music genres, classical music, ancient music, jazz, and other musical styles in the gardens of the oldest European palace still in use. You can find more information on the official website.

History of the Alcazar of Seville

Immerse yourself in the astounding Royal Alcazar of Seville, an iconic monument that will transport you to a world of wonders. Strategically located next to the charming Santa Cruz neighborhood, the majestic Seville Cathedral, and the prestigious Archive of the Indies, this historic place awaits you with open arms.

The history of the Alcazar dates back to the fascinating High Middle Ages when the influential Abd al-Rahman III ordered the construction of an imposing fortress known as Dar al-Imara, intended to house the rulers of the city. Over the centuries, it has been expanded and beautified with new palaces and dazzling gardens, with the Gothic Palace erected by Alfonso X and the Mudejar Palace built by King Don Pedro I, both true architectural gems.

The Royal Alcazar is not only a witness to history but also to intriguing legends. It inspired King Alfonso X in the creation of his famous “Cantigas,” was the scene of dark events like the fratricide committed by King Pedro I, and also saw the birth of Juan de Aragón, the son of the illustrious Catholic Monarchs, whose lineage intertwines with the grandeur of this legendary palace.

In addition to its impressive architecture and fascinating history, the Royal Alcazar delights with its charming gardens, where a profusion of exotic plants intertwine in a colorful and fragrant embrace. The orange trees bloom luxuriantly while water dances cheerfully in fountains and ponds, creating a visual and auditory symphony that transports you to a dreamlike paradise. It’s no surprise that these gardens have even captivated the famous series “Game of Thrones,” chosen as the charming gardens of Dorne.

Today, the Royal Alcazar has become a vibrant setting for various cultural activities. From outdoor music festivals with thrilling flamenco concerts to nighttime visits that immerse you in a magical and captivating atmosphere.

What to see in the Alcázar of Seville

The list of things to see in the Alcázar of Seville is quite extensive, and it’s recommended to take the tour with an official tourist guide. However, you can also choose to use the audio guide of the Alcázar of Seville, which provides basic information about the monument. From my experience, I recommend that you don’t miss seeing:

• The “Patio de las Doncellas,” which features beautiful azulejo-covered baseboards.
• The “Patio de las Muñecas,” which boasts an interesting collection of capitals.
• The “Salón de Embajadores,” which is an impressive room with a golden ceiling and exquisite decoration.
• The Palace of King Don Pedro, or Mudéjar Palace, which is the most attractive area of the Alcázar with beautifully decorated courtyards and halls.
• La Casa de la Contratación, which is a set of rooms that were used for managing trade with the Americas.
• The Admiral’s Room and the Chapel.

La Puerta de la Alcoba del Alcázar de Sevilla es un ejemplo destacado del arte mudéjar

Aunque la Puerta de la Alcoba del Alcázar de Sevilla se habilitó como acceso al monumento, para evitar aglomeraciones, actualmente sólo se utiliza como entrada para los espectáculos nocturnos que se organizan en los jardines del Real Alcazar de Sevilla.

Plaster Courtyard

The Patio del Yeso consists of a rectangular courtyard, where we can find a pool in the center and various rooms distributed around it. To the right of the courtyard, we find a 12th-century portico, which is a true gem of Almohad art, from the time of the Giralda. Opposite, we find three blocked horseshoe arches related to caliphal art, and perhaps to the most primitive period of the Alcazar.

Next, the Hall of Justice gives way to the Christianization of the building. Although it belonged to the Arab palace, it represents the first example of Mudéjar Art in the Alcazar. King Alfonso XI built it, and his son Pedro I used it as a hall for dispensing justice, in some cases in a cruel manner, as legends tell…

Mudéjar Palace of Pedro I

On its marvelous facade built by craftsmen from Seville, Granada, and Toledo, we can contemplate the greatest example of cultural fusion in its inscriptions that speak of Pedro I as a great Conqueror and of Allah as victorious. The palace has an area of more than 2,500 square meters, and through its labyrinthine corridors, we arrive at the Patio de las Doncellas, which was the center of public life in the building.

In the rectangular courtyard, we find a pond and two garden areas at different levels, which were covered by a marble floor that has survived to this day. We will also find the Renaissance influence in its upper floor and its columns of Genoese origin.

Entering the private area, we will visit the chapel where Charles V said ‘I do’ to Isabel of Portugal, and we will see the private rooms of María de Padilla and the princesses, as well as the bedrooms of the Catholic Monarchs where in 1478, Prince John, the only male child of Isabella of Castile and Ferdinand of Aragon, was born.

As the center of the private life of the palace, we will see the exquisite Patio de las Muñecas, which, although extensively renovated, preserves the imprint of the most sumptuous Arab palaces and magnificent columns and capitals from Medina Azahara.

As a jewel of the palace, we will visit the Throne Room, or Hall of Ambassadors. Its magnificent dome dates back to 1427, and its structure to the palace of the poet king al-Mutamid. It was here that the producers of the renowned series Game of Thrones filmed significant scenes.

Gothic Palace

Alfonso X El Sabio (1252-1284) had it built over the old Almohad palace, preserving the Patio del Crucero. Represents the arrival of Gothic architecture in Seville before the construction of the Great Cathedral.

In its halls, Carlos V celebrated his wedding, and we find a collection of tapestries that represent the Emperor’s Conquest of Tunis. His son, Philip II, enriched the palace with magnificent tiles made in Triana, which are of great interest.

House of Trade

Queen Isabella the Catholic established the House of Trade of the Indies in the Alcázar in 1503. It managed “New World” affairs until 1597. First, we will visit the Admiral’s Room, where official events are held today, and where we find an interesting exhibition of paintings depicting the royal family.

The Audience Room is presided over by the Virgin of the Seafarers, a 16th-century painting altarpiece by the German-born painter Alejo Fernández. This room is said to be where Ferdinand Magellan’s First Circumnavigation of the Earth was planned. It’s also been visited by the first cartographer of the Americas, Juan de la Cosa, and even Amerigo Vespucci, who gave the new continent its name.

Discover the beauty of the gardens of the Royal Alcazar of Seville

Con el tiempo, the old orchards of the Alcazar transformed into the marvelous gardens of the Royal Alcazar of Seville, where water flows through its fountains and ponds, fruit trees blossom, and diverse architectural styles coexist.

The Mercury Pool served to collect water from the old Carmona Aqueduct.

The Baths of María de Padilla They are wrapped in the most interesting legends and show us the Burgos Gothic style reflected in a pond where it is said that the Queen refreshed herself on the hot summer days in Seville, and in the Garden of the Ladies, we find fruit trees brought by the Arabs that coexist with magnolias or American silk-cotton trees.

From the time of Emperor Charles V, we find the pavilion that bears his name, and from the 17th century, a belvedere gallery decorated in grotesques, which will allow us to contemplate from above the more than 60,000 square meters of gardens and their more than 170 different botanical species.

The Fountain of Fame, the hydraulic organ of the Alcázar of Seville

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