Royal Alcazar of Seville

Seville’s landmark building is the Alcázar – in Spanish, Reales Alcázares de Sevilla – a marvellous fusion of Mudejar and Christian architecture: it is one of the oldest royal sites in Europe as well as one of the three most important Islamic monuments in Andalusia, together with the Mezquita in Cordoba and the Alhambra in Granada, which constitute the gems of Andalusian tourism.

Built as a fortress in the 10th century, it was enlarged and modified several times during its millennial existence. The result is an architectural complex of inimitable beauty, characterised by an incredible variety of architectural styles, precious and elaborate decorations, splendid hidden cloisters and tropical gardens.

The palace is divided into different sections dating back to different periods: Moorish (11th and 12th centuries), Gothic (13th century), Mudejar (14th century) and Renaissance (15th and 16th centuries). A visit to the Alcazar is like afascinating walk through the centuries, in a succession of sumptuous rooms, inner courtyards and squares!

Tour of the Alcázar of Seville

The entrance to the Alcazar is through the Puerta del León in the Plaza del Triunfo, which takes you to the Patio del Léon, the garrison square of the ancient palace at the time of Al-Muwarak.

The first room you’ll visit is the Sala de la Justicia and it’s certainly a good start, with its wonderful Mudejar stucco and artesonado-style wooden ceiling, a weave of beams embellished with beautiful decorations. Have fun discovering the amorous intrigues of King Alfonso XI, to whom this beautiful hall is owed.

Palacio de Don Pedro

The most opulent section of the entire Alcazar complex in Seville is the palace of King Pedro I, a triumph of Iberian Arab art. The inscription on the façade in Spanish and Arabic sums up the fusion of culture that characterises this wonderful palace.

The heart of the palace’s private rooms is the Patio de las Muñecas, with decoration in the Granada style; also beautiful is the Patio de la Doncellas, with its colourful tiles, carved doors and a sunken garden that was only discovered in 2004.

Another spectacular attraction of the palace is the Salón de Embajadores, the throne room, the scene of Pedro I’s betrayal of the Red King.

Gardens of the Alcazar

What most sticks in visitors’ minds about the Alcazar are usually its magnificent gardens. These are a vast and peaceful series of small gardens connected by them, each adorned with statues, fountains, pools, plants and flowers. This oasis of tranquillity represents the end of your visit to the Alcazar: what they call a grand finale!

Only the gardens on the east side are rather recent (dating from the 20th century), while all the others were created between the 16th and 17th centuries.

Other Sections

Other sections you can see during your visit are:

• Patio de la Monteria, overlooked by the halls built by the Catholic kings Ferdinand and Isabella, who wanted to control trade with the Americas from here
• Salones de Carlos V: rooms built in the 13th century and remodelled several times, the most beautiful being Sala de las Bovedas
• Patio del Crucero: rebuilt in the 18th century following an earthquake, it was once built so that nobles walking around the patio could easily pluck orange trees from the branches at their height.
• Cuarto Real Alto, still used as a royal palace by Spanish monarchs on official visits to Seville. These flats can be visited with a separate ticket, subject to availability.

Official ticket for the Alcázar of Seville

The Alcazar is one of the most visited tourist attractions in Spain. To avoid queues at the ticket offices, we recommend that you purchase your tickets online by following this link or by filling in the form below. By purchasing your ticket online, you will avoid the queues that form every day at the ticket offices.

Combined tickets and guided tours

In addition to the single ticket, you can also be accompanied by an expert guide who will give you a more in-depth insight into the palace’s intricate history and interesting facts about the kings and sultans who lived and ruled here. In addition, many tourists visit the Cathedral, the Giralda and the Alcazar together. If you want to optimise your time, you can buy a single tour that includes entrance tickets and a guide.