Reales Alcázares, Royal palace in Seville, Spain
Reales Alcázares is a royal palace complex in Seville, Spain. Its courtyards are enclosed by two levels of carved arcades: the lower level has multifoil arches on slender columns, while the upper level has a gallery of round arches topped by a carved balustrade. A long rectangular reflecting pool with red-brick and tiled borders lies in the center of the open floor.
Construction started in 913 when Caliph Abdurrahman III ordered a fortified residence on this site. Christian monarchs later expanded the complex considerably, especially King Pedro I during the 1360s, who employed Muslim craftsmen.
The name Alcázar comes from Arabic al-qaṣr, meaning a large stone building from which power is projected, ultimately from Latin castrum, "fort". The palace is a preeminent example of Mudéjar style, combining Islamic and Christian techniques, and its upper storeys remain the official Seville residence of the Spanish royal family, administered by Patrimonio Nacional.
The complex is entered through the Puerta del León off the Plaza del Triunfo, near the Cathedral and the General Archive of the Indies. The upper storeys are administered by the Patrimonio Nacional and are closed to visitors. The grounds are large, so allow at least two hours.
The upper floors remain the official Seville residence of Spain's royal family and are closed to visitors during royal stays. This makes the complex the oldest continuously inhabited royal palace in Europe.
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