Baths of Doña María de Padilla in Seville's Royal Alcazar
When Alfonso X took over the Alcazar from the Muslim Moors, he was not very impressed by their buildings. The ceilings were too low and the rooms too small. In addition, the king didn’t like the labyrinth-like distribution of the spaces.
So he simply tore some of the buildings down to make way for a new Gothic palace. Alfonso liked Gothic architecture which at the time was seen as a symbol of the triumph of Christianity over Islam.
Main sections of the Gothic Palace:
- Gran Salón
- Tapestries room
- Chapel
- Baños de María Padilla - The baths were actually a water cistern known as an aljibe. However, it was named the “Baths of María Padilla” because legend has it that María Padilla, the mistress of King Peter I, used to bathe in them. Although the king was known for his many mistresses, María was his favorite. They had several children together and after her death, their marriage was validated and she was proclaimed as queen.
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PALACIO DEL REY DON PEDRO(Peter I, 1356 - 1364)
Salón de Embajadores (Ambassadors' Hall) in the Alcazar
If you were to visit the Alcazar de Sevilla and have no knowledge of its history, you would probably think that the Palacio del Rey Don Pedro was leftover from the rule of the Muslim Moors. But you would be wrong.
This amazing palace was actually commissioned by King Peter I, more than 100 years after Seville was reconquered by the christians.
Peter was very open-minded and greatly admired islamic culture. He brought in Muslim architects and artisans to build him a new palace in Mudéjar style.
The result is a very unique mixture of cultures. If you look closely you will even see arabic writing proclaiming Peter’s greatness – “Glory to our Lord the Sultan Don Pedro! May Allah protect him!”
Patio de las Doncellas
Main Sections of the Palacio del Rey Don Pedro:
- Salón de Embajadores (Ambassadors’ Hall) - The most impressive of the interior spaces. The ceiling will blow your mind!
- Patio de las Doncellas (Maids' Patio) - The most photographed patio in the Alcazar.
- Patio de las Muñecas
- Cuarto del Príncipe (Room of the Prince)
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GARDENS OF THE ALCAZAR
Grutesco gallery in the gardens of the Alcazar
The Alcazar’s gardens are the oldest in the city and originally, were used for growing crops. Although they have been reformed many times throughout history, they still maintain a Moorish heritage featuring fountains, tile work and many orange trees.
The Galeria de Grutesco is the highlight of the garden. It’s a 160m (525 ft) long wall that was part of the Almohad defensive fortifications from the 12th century. King Philip II hired Italian artist Vermondo Resta to transform the Moorish wall into a gallery for admiring the garden. The result is a fusion of nature and architecture.
Right next to the Galería de Grutesco you will find the Estanque de Mercurio (Mercury’s Pond). It is thought that this beautiful pond was built during the Moorish times to store water for the whole Alcazaba (fortress).
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CUARTO REAL ALTO
The Cuarto Real is the official residence of the king in Seville. Inside you will find the bedroom and chapel of the Catholic Queen Isabella. To enter the Cuarto Real Alto, a separate ticket is required. See our Tickets & Opening Times page for more information.
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CASA DE LA CONTRATACIÓN DE INDIAS
The House of Trade of the Indies was created in 1503 by the Catholic Monarchs to regulate commerce and navigation to the New World.
Inside there is the Sala de Audiencias which worked as a chapel (Capilla de la Virgen de los Navegantes) and is where sailors would pray before starting their voyages. Most of the regulatory work moved to the Archivo de Indias when it opened in 1589.