Alcázar in Seville, Spain

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The Alcázar is the royal palace of Seville, renowned as one of the most beautiful buildings in Spain. There was previously a Muslim fortress on this site about 1,000 years ago, which was entirely rebuilt in the 1300s and 1400s after the reconquest of Spain. Today the Alcázar is an outstanding example of mudéjar architecture, which is that special blend of Muslim and Spanish styles that displays very elaborate ornamentation. For the next several hundred years the complex expanded and grew into one of the grandest palaces in Europe. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987, it is one of the most popular attractions in Spain and a must-see while you are in Seville. Our visit includes the Alcázar gardens with their labyrinths of flower-lined walks, and glorious date-palms, bananas, orange tress and citron groves. It really is a pleasing spot within the palace enclosure. The Alcázar is situated just next to the Cathedral so it is very easy to find.
We walked through the Alcázar with a local guide, which is always a great way to learn more about a place – you don’t have to go fumbling for books or walking through without understanding what you’re looking at.