The Royal Alcázar of Seville

One of the most magical and amazing places The Royal Alcázar of Seville is a prominent landmark in Andalusia. It stands out in the historic center of the Andalusian city, opposite the Cathedral of Saint Mary of the See, the Giralda tower, and the General Archive of the Indies.

Hundreds of years, even a thousand years, make up its labyrinthine history It speaks of the unfolding of millions of lives. The city remains, people come and go, and the Royal Alcázar has stood the test of time for so long that it's incredible to even think about it!

Discover the Alcázar Palace of Seville

There is in our city a oasis of peace where to step back in time: one of the great jewels of World Heritage Site and the second most visited monument in the region of Andalusia. palaces and gardens It describes over a thousand years of unparalleled history. A place where getting lost is in itself a unique experience.

A stroll with friends through the Alcázar of Seville

Recently, I was lucky enough to have some friends from Holland visit us in Seville. They come every year. We became very good friends during the years I lived there, specifically in Zwolle, in the northeast of the country. A small town brimming with life.

These friends had already been to Seville a couple of times, but this time it was time to truly discover it, their stories, their places, their way of life.

The first place that came to their minds was the visit to the Royal Alcázar. Despite having been to Seville a few times, they hadn't been there before, and naturally, this time they couldn't leave without doing so!

We decided to go there. The weather was excellent. There weren't too many tourists, and we got the tickets quickly.

Everything we saw at the Alcázar of Seville

Lion Gate and Courtyard

Once we were able to cross the Lion's Gate, The magic has already begun... We've entered a world of the past, yet still present, because it's alive. As long as the walls of the Alcázar stand, history will live on. 🙂

We followed the marked itinerary (since Covid, tourists have had to follow certain guidelines to avoid crossing paths). There we began to talk about the importance of Seville for centuries, and of course, what the Alcázar was, what it was throughout the centuries and how each reigning monarch adapted it to his needs, because, after all, it was his house!

Palace of Justice and Plaster Courtyard

The first stop was the Palace of Justice with its beautiful Plaster Courtyard. A good appetizer for what awaited us later… So magical, so pure… The idea that these remains of the Courtyard are the oldest thing that, to this day, is visible and visitable in the Royal Alcázar, already gives you goosebumps!

Hunting Courtyard

We head back towards Hunting Courtyard, which serves as a central axis between several spectacular buildings from different eras, which we will visit little by little. Here, the photo is a must, Absolutely mandatory!

The House of Trade

Now, it's time to go into the House of Trade. My friends are intrigued by the collection of antique fans adorning the display cases in the first room. We move on to the Admiral's Room, where the gigantic painting of the Last Things of King Ferdinand III, the Saint, stands out. Its name is curious, and I explain to my friends that it refers to the four final stages that a human being must go through: death, judgment, hell, or glory. In the case of the Saintly King, it would be precisely glory... or so we hope!

From there, within the same House of Trade, created by the Catholic Monarchs to control trade with the New World, we enter the Courtroom. This is where they met with navigators and sailors. We love its gilded ceiling and the Gothic painting of the Virgin of the Seafarers!

The Mudejar Palace

We return to the Patio de la Montería and… wait for it! one of the best photocalls in the world: the facade of the Mudéjar Palace. Its tiles, its plasterwork, its arches… make for a perfect photo! Here we took some time to pose, one after another… until we got a great photo with spectacular colors.

The action starts here! It's time to choose between their labyrinthine passageways that will take us one way or another. We're brought back to reality because we have to follow the marked route. "Everyone to the left, please!"—the security guard's voice, bottled up inside his mask, jolts us out of our idyllic dream of adventure. That said, everything is very well organized…

Let there be light! After passing through that passageway with its Tarifa stone floor framed in tiles, we arrive at the wonderful, magnificent, and spectacular!Courtyard of the MaidensI get lost here… Leave me here and I'm happy. I'd never leave!

As a tour guide, I've been to this place countless times, but it always surprises and captivates me, as we say in Andalusia. To captivate is to enchant, to be drawn in by what you see… Well, that's it, it completely wins me over. If you've been there, I'm sure you'll know why… If you haven't, I encourage you to visit the Royal Alcázar. It's worth it just to see this courtyard. Don't hesitate 😉

The Courtyard of the Maidens and its surrounding rooms were already fascinating enough, but when my friends entered the Hall of Ambassadors They were utterly mesmerized by the domed dome and all the decoration that adorned its walls. It was the most privileged spot in the palace…

The Gardens of the Royal Alcázar

It's time for us to leave this beautiful place to go outside and get some sun... Let's go to the patio!

The Gardens of the Alcázar They invite you to enjoy yourself to the fullest, to relax, to spend a whole day there. Let them close it, I'm staying!

We let ourselves be carried away by the essences of the flowers, we let ourselves get lost in the freshness of their paths…

Some very curious little friends approach us: peacocks. My friends couldn't quite believe it… “In a World Heritage Site, a garden like this, full of peacocks and other birds, right in the center of a city!”

And so, with these happy faces, we bid farewell to the Royal Alcázar. We continue our route through Seville (I'll show you more soon).

And, as I said, the best way to discover it properly is with a official tour guide. Don't be fooled, choose wisely who guides you and invites you to explore every corner so that it becomes a part of you. Look for accredited official guides, small groups (you miss many interesting things on free tours), and that's it—enjoy! Royal Alcázar of Seville on a guided tour!.