Patio de Banderas, Royal courtyard at Alcazar complex, Seville, Spain
The Patio de Banderas is a rectangular courtyard within the Alcázar complex featuring two rows of orange trees and a central hexagonal fountain. The space is surrounded by palace buildings on all sides, creating an enclosed plaza with paved ground.
The courtyard was designed as an entrance area for the Alcázar and evolved into a key connecting point within the complex. Archaeological excavations between 2008 and 2009 revealed settlement evidence beneath the surface dating back to the seventh century BC.
Visitors walking through notice the orange trees and the open arrangement that creates a sense of transition between the palace and the surrounding city. The space functions as a threshold where people pass between two distinct neighborhoods.
The courtyard is accessible through an arched passage from the Alcázar and connects the palace directly to the adjacent Jewish quarter. Visitors should note that the smooth stone surface can be slippery when wet.
The name comes from painted flags that once decorated the entrance arch, a detail documented by writer Fernán Caballero in her work about the Alcázar. This historical marking is no longer visible today, yet the name still recalls this original decoration.
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