Royal Alcazars of Seville

Starting off our day with a yummy traditional Andalusian breakfast....orange juice, cafe con leche (coffee with milk) and Iberian ham on a soft bun with olive oil and tomatoes, if you like.

We are ready for a big day.

The Royal Alcazars of Seville or 'Reales Alcazars de Sevilla' is a palace which first belonged to the Moorish Muslim Kings. 

On our 'short cut' through the streets of Seville, we come upon such authentic architecture.  

We saw, which looked like 'wheels' embedded in the walls of buildings in the Old Quarter?  Not sure what they were I looked it up.

Apparently mill stones were used to reinforce the walls that have been damaged by carts and such over the years.  Mill stones were very hard and were discarded when they became of no more use by the city mills.

Curious. 

We are here!!!

One of the oldest palaces, and still in use by the Spanish Royal Family as the official home in Seville, in Europe.

The main entrance into the castle is very impressive.  The 'Puerto del Leon' or the Lions Gate.

The path before us leads into the main facade of the palace.

Originally, on this site, was a Moorish fortress, which was buit in the year 712.

The Muslim Moors ruled for more than 500 years and made a tremendous impact, even after being defeated by the Christian Spanish rulers, on Spain's culture and art which you can still see today.

Alcazar means 'Royal House' or 'Room Of The Prince.'

The Royal Family still stay here when in Seville, on the upper floors of the Alcazar, which is closed to the public.

The present Royal Family of Spain is of the 'House of Bourbon-Anjou', headed by King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia.

Mosaic tiles originated first in Spain and then spread throughout the Western world. 

It actually stretches back a 1000 years.

The Royal Alcazar is decorated with amazing examples of these tiles.

The entrance to the interior of the Alcazar.

Many styles are seen in the facade of the palace.

The top is made by tradesmen from Toledo, Spain.

The middle is a style by Granada architecture.

The bottom is what is called 'blind arches of Sevilla.'

Beautiful peacocks live in the palace and the gardens....popping out under foot beneath the shrubs.

I was very happy to see that the tourists, besides taking photos....like me, do not feel them or distress these gorgeous, gentle birds.

(Below) . The 'Courtyard Of The Maidens.'

The legend is that the Moors, as a tribute to them, commanded that 100 virgins be sent to the Alcazar  every year from the christian Kingdoms in Iberia.  (A region in the southwest corner of Europe covering 225,000 square miles.)

This courtyard in modern times has been used by Hollywood for movie sets.

Ridley Scott's movie, 'Kingdom of Heaven' for one.

'Lawrence of Arabia' in 1962 was also filmed, in parts, here.

Of course my favourite was 'Game of thrones' Season 5 had used the Alcazar in their filming of the water gardens of Dorne, as well.

The architecture is exquisite.  Tiled in colourful designs and arch ways that again reflects Muslim influences.

As the Alcazar has been occupied by many rulers since the Moors, each one adding to the Alcazar over the years, it has many different designs that make it quite interesting to explore and behold.

Below is the entrance to the gardens.....which we will do later.

Gorgeous photos for those who wait....

The ceilings were not left out in the designs and decorations of this massive fortress and palace.

A few pieces of pottery exhibited in the tiled rooms.

The 'Stations of the Cross' depicted in tile was on display in the upper levels of the palace.

Also known as the 'Way of Sorrows' it is a series of images that show Jesus Christ and the day of the Crucifixion.  His last day on Earth as a man.

They can be found in all Catholic Churches.

A very old piece of tile made in the 14th century.  Interestingly, the tiles back then were very thick....1 inch or more we observed, in comparison to the tiles of today which can be very thin....and fragile.

This one has survived, mostly, for over 600 years!!

An incredible palace to discover....make sure you have great and comfortable footwear, and lots of time as this isn't a place to visit if in a rush.  It has so many corners to explore and sit and ponder what 1300 years, plus, has seen here in these walls.

Next....onto the Gardens of the Alcazar.