Seville's Real Alcazar

Boxing Day was Tegan and Andy's only day in Seville as they were heading off to Morroco the following day. As a result we scheduled our day to visit the Alcazar and associated gardens first and foremost.

Not only is the Alcazar the old palace of the area, but parts of it are still in use as the official Seville residence of the Spanish royal family. These rooms, known as the Cuarto Real Alto (Upper Royal Apartments) are open to the public (at restricted times) but typically, photos are not allowed. Thankfully we raced up to book tickets the moment we arrived as slots seemed to be closing quickly (but strangely, not filling quickly).  Stranger still was that access to the rooms was as an audio guided tour that started and didn't stop. This meant we were always being moved through the building and so never had the chance to stop and properly look as some of the details of the building. 

I'll admit, I really don't like being shepherded through a historical building to someone else's' schedule. I don't mind buying the book to remember what I've seen, but I don't particularly enjoy by the book in order to have a better look at things I've seen in person. Thankfully some of the awesome rooms we visited were just the upper levels of rooms that were part of the photograph-able sections and ones we could take as long as we wanted to peruse. 

Thankfully in the remainder of the Alcazar we had all the time we desired to view the details of the Mudéjar style used throughout.

Foyer of the staircase up to the Cuarto Real Alto

Part of the Facade of the Mudejar Palace

Vestibule of the Palacio de Don Pedro

Patio de las Doncellas

Wall decoration of the Patio de las Doncellas

 

Dormitorio de los Reyes Moros

Dome of the Salon de Embajadores

Salon de Embajadores

 

Patio de las Munecas

Ceiling of the Cuarto del Principe

Sala de las Bovedas

Having wandered off the enjoy the rooms at my own pace, I soon got a phone call demanding to know where I was and instructing me to meet them all at the cafe, soon. Thankfully I was nearing the end of the rooms and so was content to sit down for a while, drink an intolerable coffee (Spanish coffee is too strong) before wandering off again (away from the family) to explore the gardens.

Estanque de Mercurio (Pond of Mercury)

From the sunshine and blue sky you would never have guessed that we were here in the days just after Christmas.

Banos de Maria Padilla

Backrest of a bench in the Jardin de la Danza

Looking towards the Jardin de la Alcoba

Pabellon de Carlos V

Jardin Ingles

Galeria del Grutesco overlooking the Jardin de la Alcoba