Real Alcázar of Seville
The oldest royal palace still in active use in Europe, the Real Alcázar is a dizzying layering of Mudéjar tilework, Renaissance fountains and manicured gardens that took seven centuries to build. Game of Thrones fans will recognise the Water Gardens of Dorne here, but the real thing outshines any screen adaptation.
The Palaces
Enter through the Puerta del León and let the Patio de las Doncellas stop you cold — its double-arched arcades and sunken pool reflecting carved stucco are the visual heart of the complex. Pedro I commissioned this centrepiece in 1364, importing craftsmen directly from Granada and Toledo to achieve its astonishing detail.
The upper royal apartments are still used by the Spanish royal family when they visit Seville, so certain rooms rotate in and out of public access. Arrive early on a weekday to catch the Salón de Embajadores, whose gilded half-orange dome is arguably the most beautiful ceiling in Spain.
The Gardens
Spread across eight hectares behind the palaces, the gardens shift from formal Renaissance parterres with clipped myrtle hedges to wilder English-style corners full of orange trees and peacocks. The Galería del Grutesco — a raised promenade built on old Almohad walls — gives a commanding view over the whole green expanse.
On summer evenings (June to September) the Alcázar hosts open-air night visits and occasional classical concerts in the gardens. Booking weeks in advance is essential; these tickets sell out faster than the standard day entry.
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