The Real Alcázar is a group of palaces surrounded by a wall. It was built about a Roman and later Visigoth settlement. From the year 720 AD. The Arabs used it as a residence for their rulers. After the Reconquest of Seville, the monument was occupied by Ferdinand III and Pedro I the Cruel rebuilt it. the old Almohad building to enable it as a royal residence in the 14th century. It has contributions from all periods, although the dominant styles are Mudejar and Renaissance.
When the Almohads arrived in Al-Andalus, they turned Seville into the most important city on the peninsula, naming it as capital from the year 1172 Under the caliphate of Abu Yusuf Yaqub al-Mansur (1184-1199) new buildings were built for the residence of the caliph and his court. The fortress palace built by Abd Al Raman III, is It consists of rooms exquisitely decorated with plasterwork, tiling and coffered ceilings, which combine well with the splendid gardens and water, thus creating a unique atmosphere. a nice set.
When Seville annexed to the Crown of Castile in the year 1248, just six years later, under the reign of Alfonso the construction of a new building that modified the the Almohad structure. For this, the most innovative models of Gothic architecture were chosen, thus demonstrating the new power with a Christian style. A century later, between 1356 and 1366, the construction of the palace of Peter I was carried out. It was no longer necessary to mark the difference with respect to the previous power, seeking an Islamic influence, which was achieved. thanks to the work of Mudejar craftsmanship, from Toledo, Granada and Seville. It was the private residence of the ruler. It has a rectangular floor plan, with different rooms around two patios, the Maidens' patio, with the most formal rooms, with beautiful tiled plinths, and the Dolls' patio, the center of the rooms. of a private nature, with a large collection of capitals. It is said that this patio owes its name to the nine doll faces carved on the columns of the arches. The Room of the Catholic Monarchs, the Prince's Room and the Room of the Lost Steps open onto this patio.
As for the gardens today, they occupy more than 70,000 square meters, and are a succession of spaces from different periods and styles. They were born out of the need to have a garden within the defensive enclosure, but as the military character was lost they were transformed into resting places. Perhaps the one that stands out the most is the Garden of Mercury, with a large pond that reuses an old pool, and in the center of which is the god of commerce, with a wall of grotesques in the background. . Others are the Flower Garden, the Prince's Garden or the Dance Garden, where water is present through fountains and ponds, and a nature that harmonizes with the pavilions and gazebos. p>
From October 1 to March 31 :
Monday to Sunday: from 09:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
From April 1 to September 30: Monday to Sunday: from 09:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.