аÄÃÅ¿ª½±½á¹û

By Ajay Suresh – Wikimedia

Top 10 Facts about the Royal Alcázar of Seville

This Palace was built for King Peter of Castile, who was a Christian and also happens to be the oldest Royal Palace still being used in Europe.

The architecture of this Palace is a beautiful mesh between Christian and Mudejar designs.

Before the Palace was built, in its place stood a residential Palace occupied by Muslims. Castilian Christians took over the Palace after a conquest in Seville.

The Palace’s architecture is made up of Gothic, Renaissance and Romanesque features. These are evidence of its previous stages of construction.

Part of the upper storey of the Palace is occupied by the Spanish Royal family. This Palace was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987.

This Palace is the most iconic monument in the city and popular with both locals and tourists.

With other 100 centuries of history, there is something to learn about this Palace. Here are the top 10 facts about the Royal Alcazar of Seville.

1. The Palace is a display of a beautiful blend of Mudejar and Christian architecture

By Luckyz – Wikimedia

The Royal Alcázar of Seville is one of the oldest royal palaces that is still used in Europe.

The first architects of this Palace were the Arabs who were also the first residents of the Palace.

It was reconstructed by the Castilian Christians under the orders of King Peter of Castile. This was after the Christian conquest of Seville.

Further expansion of the Palace was done by other Spanish Kings. The combination of these two religions gave birth to a beautiful blend of Christian and Muslim architectural designs.

The first major reconstruction was done in the 11^th century and was turned into a Palace in the 12^th century.

2. Construction of the Palace is said to have taken 5 centuries

It took 500 years to fully complete the construction of the Palace and achieving the architectural wonder that it is right now.

One can hardly tell how the original structure looked like but the refurbishments are visible. Very conspicuous are Islamic ornaments and patterns.

During the 500 years, each monarch that lived in the Palace added a structure or a garden. There are several beautiful gardens at Royal Alcazar.

In the 13^th century, the Spanish Reconquista remodelled the Palace using Gothic and Romanesque features.

Renaissance features were added in the 16^th century. An earthquake led to the destruction of the Palace in 1755.

This led to the renovation of the façade using Baroque elements.

3. Salon de Embajadores is the most decorated room in the Palace

By Alvesgaspar – Wikimedia

In every Palace or home, there is always that one room that stands out. At the Royal Alcazar, that room is the Ambassador’s Hall.

It served as the throne room during the reign of Al-Mutadim in the 11^th century.

Pedro I of Castile renovated it in the 14^th century by making it the centrepiece of his Palace.

The room features plant motifs on the plasterwork that were added in the corners of the room while the windows have geometric elements to them. Tile panels were used on the walls.

When Al-Mutadim lived here, the hall was built to face Mecca, but that was changed after the Christian Kings took over.

4. The Palace is the official residence of the Royal family

The ownership of the Alcazar Palace belongs to the local council of Seville.

It is used for ceremonial events and hosting dignitaries by the Royal family in Spain.

The upper floors of the Palace are used by the Patrimonio Nacional while doubling as the official residence of the Royal family.

UNESCO declared it as a heritage site in 1987.

5. Royal Alcazar of Seville has unique tiles

This palace is famously known for its tile decoration. Two tile types have been used, they are majolica and arista tiles.

The arista tiles have green body stamped on them while each tile has raised ridges. This makes the tiles seem to have a transparent finish on them.

Whereas the majolica tile which was developed between the 15^th and 16t^h century could be painted on. They covered the tiles with white opaque finishes.

These tiles were easily accessible in Seville since it was a trading centre where the production of the tiles happened on large scale.

The majolica tiles were mainly of geometric design inspired by arabesque decorations.

6. The gardens at Royal Alcazar of Seville have exotic tree species

By Michiel1972 – Wikimedia

There are several gardens at the Royal Alcazar. These gardens have a beautiful collection of exotic trees, hedges, hiking trails, pavilions and ponds.

The gardens have different styles and they occupy about 60,000 square metres of land. There are over 170 plant species from all over the world.

They served a very important role in the palace and were modified over time.

The gardens provided food for the palace residents while also functioning as an aesthetic.

The gardens are perfect for walks as you enjoy the beautiful environment. You will also find a restaurant in the gardens where you can have a drink and get some sandwiches.

7. The Courtyard of the Maidens was featured in the movie the Kingdom of Heaven

By Ajay Suresh – Wikimedia

This room in the palace got its name from a mythical story about the Moors.

It is alleged that they demanded a tribute of 1000 virgins from the Christian Kingdoms in Iberia.

The lower storey in the courtyard was used for royal receptions overlooking the rectangular reflecting pool.

The courtyard was entirely paved in marble and had a beautiful fountain in the centre.

This courtyard was featured in the movie Kingdom of Heaven, the scene was the court of the King of Jerusalem.

8. The ceiling in the Hall of ambassadors was built to resemble the night sky

By Alvesgaspar – Wikimedia

As mentioned earlier, the hall of ambassadors is the most decorated room in the palace.

The ceiling of this room is something to marvel at, it has light from outside shining through it.

It features delicate patterns that allow light to seep through thereby covering the room in soft golden light.

Staring at it will create an illusion of staring at the night sky. This is what it was designed to look like.

What inspired the architect was the Hall of the Pleiades that was built by King Al-Mutamid in the 11^th century.

The dome-shaped ceiling is made of wood and has hundreds of tiny mirrors.

9. Game of Thrones featured the gardens and a balcony of Royal Alcazar

Another famous film that was shot in this palace is the epic television series Game of Thrones.

The interiors of the palace were used in the scene of Dorne as well as the garden.

The gardens are so beautiful and this was reflected in the show. It has been well maintained over the years.

The other place featured in the television series is the balcony above the gardens. It is however not open to the public.

10. Los Baños De Doña María De Padilla

The architects of this palace were very innovative. They built underground water tanks to collect rainwater.

These tanks are known as the Baths of Lady Maria de Padilla, she was the mistress of Peter the Cruel.

The baths are made of vaulted crypts that have three naves together with a cistern located under the courtyard of the Cruise.

It stays cool due to its location. They can be accessed through a barrel vault.