Travel for Life

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. Photo Gallery During my 3-day trip to Seville on the December 27th...

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 sma...

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 And...