Moorish Majesty: Unveiling the Royal Alcázar of Seville

Royal Alcázar's entrance boasts a view of lush gardens

Steeped in history, the Alcázar (or Reales Alcázares de Sevilla ⭐⭐in Spanish) is a royal palace dating back to Moorish rule in the 8th century. A UNESCO World Heritage site since 1987, it's considered one of the most stunning examples of mudéjar art – a unique blend of Islamic and Christian styles. Even today, the Alcázar remains the oldest royal palace still in use, welcoming dignitaries and heads of state.

Mudéjar Art 

The Alcázar's story begins in 712, with the Moorish conquest of Seville. Over time, a simple structure grew into a grand palace. However, by the 13th century, the Christian Reconquista reclaimed the area for Spain. The Catholic Monarchs then incorporated Gothic, Renaissance, and Romanesque elements into the existing Islamic architecture, creating the stunning Mudéjar style we see today.

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During my 3-day trip to Seville on the December 27th of 2019, I visited the Royal Alcázar of Seville.  An initial long queue daunted me, so I opted for a local guided tour. This turned out to be a great decision! The tour group bypassed the long line, and while it was still crowded inside the palace, it was a much smoother experience.

A mesmerizing reflection captures the beauty of the Royal Bathroom at the Seville Alcázar

Most mosques feature a dome, called qubba in Arabic. The dome is a symbolic representation of the vault of heaven. The interior decoration of a dome often emphasizes this symbolism using patterns to awe and inspire.^[5]

Royal Alcázar’s ceiling patterns showcase Mudéjar art’s artistic and mathematical brilliance

Islamic art highlights geometry, employing ratios and tessellations—fitting shapes together without gaps or overlaps—to create a harmonious and perfect aesthetic

Leonor de Guzmán, reputedly the most beautiful woman in Spain

Exit with the Bell Tower (La Giralda) of Cathedral in the background

References

1. Alcázar of Seville
2. The History Of The Alcázar Of Seville In 1 Minute
3. Real Alcázar
4. NATURANDA—Guided tours and excursions in Andalusia, Spain and Morocco
5. 24 dome interiors in mosques across the world

Córdoba's Roman Bridge and Tower: A Perfect Example of Andalusian Heritage

Video 1.  Andalusia Travel―Visiting Roman Bridge and Tower (YouTube link)

Roman Bridge (Puente Romano de Córdoba)

Córdoba’s famous Roman Bridge (or Puente Romano⭐ ) dates from the 1st century BC and was extensively rebuilt in the 10th century during the Moorish occupation of the city. Sitting low over the opaque waters of the Guadalquivir, which flows down all the way through Andalusia and out into the Atlantic, it is supported by 17 stone arches, of which just two once belonged to the original structure.

Calahorra Tower (Torre de la Calahorra)

Dating from the late 1100s, the Cahalorra tower was constructed by the rulers of Moorish Córdoba to protect the Puente Romano – one of the city’s principal entrances – from invaders. It originally consisted of two towers separated by an iron gate but in the late 1300s a third, cylindrical tower was added by Henry II of Castile to better guard the bridge from an attack by his own brother. Nowadays it houses a small but interesting museum on the history of Al-Andalus, as Moorish-ruled Spain used to be called.

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On 12/28/2019, the photos below were taken.

On the way to the bridge and tower

The bridge and the tower (at the far right)

A town museum featuring waxworks & a model of the Alhambra

Surgery tools

View from the tower

View from the bridge

In the morning of next day

References

1. 20 Must-Visit Attractions in Córdoba, Spain

Andalusia Travel―Visiting the Alcazar of the Christian Monarchs

Alcazar of the Christian Monarchs (YouTube link)

Córdoba’s Alcazar de los Reyes Cristianos ⭐– ‘Castle of the Christian Kings’– is often overlooked in favor of the city’s most famous architectural landmark, the Mosque-Cathedral. Yet this elegant Mudéjar palace is one of Córdoba’s most intriguing and attractive monuments.

In my opinion, if you cannot visit Granada’s great Alhambra, you can simply visit the Mosque-Cathedral of Córdoba and Alcazar of the Christian Monarchs.  Mosque-Cathedral of Córdoba is regarded as one of the most accomplished monuments of Moorish architecture.  And, Alcazar of the Christian Monarchs whose gardens are a scaled-down version of those you also see in Granada’s great Alhambra fortress.

Alcazar de los Reyes Cristianos

As its name suggests, the construction of this royal palace was ordered by the Catholic King Alfonso XI of Castile in 1328 but – as is so often the case in Andalusia – it was built amongst the ruins of a vast Moorish fort.

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On 12/29/2019, the below photos were taken in Córdoba, Spain:

Caballerizas Reales (right) and Gardens (left)