Next to the Cathedral, the stunning Alcazar can be visited:
Tuesday to Saturday 10:30am to 5pm
Sunday 10:30am to 1pm

From June to September:
Tuesday to Saturday 10am to 1pm and 5pm to 7pm
Sunday 10:30am to 1pm

As you’d expect for a building that’s been in continual use for six or seven centuries various sections have been added over time while others have been ‘modernised’. General Franco had something of an impact during his visits…not for the better as you might imagine. The most beautiful sections are the oldest –- the Mudejar influence can be seen in doorways, columns and ornate tilework –- but you can also see state rooms preserved from much more recent periods.

The real highlight for us was the gardens. There are immaculately maintained terraces with walled courtyards and a series of tranquil ponds. Fountains provide the soundtrack (along with your fellow visitors obviously) while you explore the avenues lined with manicured hedges and borders. It is a delightful place and, in February when the crowds are quite sparse, it was quite easy to lose yourself in the scents of the fruit trees and the dazzling array of workmanship that this palace contains.

The network of courtyards . . . the crafted gardens . . . the east-meets-west opulence -– if I was in the market for a palace, this would be top of my list. Sadly, the commute to Nottingham is a bit tricky. Otherwise . . .

The Almohads used the Alcazar as a citadel, and its fortifications stretched to the historic Torre del Oro along the Guadalquivir River. Only a few sections of the Almohad walls are left in the current Alcazar. What stands today is the so-called Christian remakes of the complex in a Mudejar architectural style that is a hybrid between Moorish and Spanish trends. Some portions of various Moorish buildings in Sevilla, Cordoba, and Valencia were removed and repositioned at the Alcazar. Various Spanish kings and queens commissioned entire wings, apartments, and extensive renovations to the complex. The royal apartments hosted Generalissimo Francisco Franco in his days in power. The Alcazar is still used as the official guest residence for the current royalty of Spain.

The most complete leftover from the Islamic period is the Patio del Yeso, the former Arabic palace. The surrounding Mudejar architecture does its best to mesh with the older parts. The main palace was rebuilt in the 14th century, with extensive enlargements and renovations tacked on over the centuries by the whims of the royals. The Puerta del Leon, the main gateway into the Alcazar, separates the Patio de la Monteria (hunting court) from the surrounding city. The main courtyard is the Patio de las Doncellas (maids' court). This connects with the Salon de los Embajadores (Hall of the Ambassadors), which features a golden dome. Perhaps the most important hall of the palace, this was where King Ferdinand and Queen Isabel supposedly welcomed Christopher Columbus after his triumphant return from the New World. This is part of a newer wing used to plot expeditions to the Americas. The Patio de las Munecas (court of the dolls) is one of the more delicately embellished spaces.

The Jardines del Alcazar (gardens) encompass a great deal of territory and reveals an eclectic mix of Arabic and European gardening styles. There are plenty of wonderful orange and lemon trees. Across the walls of the Alcazar are the Jardines de Murillo, which locals are free to enjoy at no cost.

Outside marvelous garden keep a welcomed fresh air in the palace. Palm trees, cypress give shadow to this land of fierce sun. Fountains, statues, flowers and even a floral maze are a real jewel for the eyes.