¡Hola, fellow travelers! As your Seville expert, I can tell you that when you walk into the Royal Alcázar, you are not just walking into a palace. You are walking through time.
This is, without exaggeration, Europe’s oldest royal palace still in use, and it is the single best-surviving example of Mudéjar architecture in the world.
But it’s not just one palace. It’s a 1,000-year-old story, a fortress built on Roman ruins, a Moorish palace built on top of that, and a Christian palace built inside of it.
The history of the Alcázar is the history of Seville.
The Story of the Alcázar: A History in Three Acts
Instead of just a list of dates, I want you to see Alcázar’s history as three “layers” that you will physically walk through.
The Moorish Fortress (The Foundation: 10th-12th Centuries)
- Key Date: 913 AD
- What it was: The story begins here. The Umayyad Caliphate of Córdoba builds a fortress on the site of an old Roman (and later Visigothic) settlement. This wasn’t the palace you see today; it was a practical, defensive fort called “Al-Muwarak.”
- What’s left? You can still see and touch this ancient past! When you are in the Patio del Yeso (Plaster Courtyard), you are standing in one of the last remaining parts of the original 12th-century Almohad palace.
The Mudéjar Masterpiece (The Main Event: 14th Century)
- Key Date: 1364 AD
- This is the most important chapter. After the Christian Reconquista, King Pedro I (Peter the Cruel) decided to build his new royal palace. But here’s the twist: he was so enchanted by the Moorish art of his defeated enemies that he hired Islamic artisans from Granada to build it for him.
- This is the birth of “Mudéjar”: Christian kings using Islamic-style art. You will see Arabic calligraphy on the walls praising the Christian king! This is the stunning fusion that defines the Alcázar.
- What you’ll see: This is the palace you’ve come to see. King Pedro I built the Palacio Mudéjar (also called the Palace of Peter I), which contains the breathtaking Patio de las Doncellas (Courtyard of the Maidens) and the jaw-dropping Salón de Embajadores (Hall of Ambassadors), which was finished in 1366.
The Catholic & Renaissance Overlay (The Evolution: 15th-18th Centuries)
- Key Date: 1477 AD
- What it was: After the Mudéjar masterpiece, the palace continued to evolve. The Catholic Monarchs, Queen Isabella I and King Ferdinand II, moved in and made Alcázar the center of their empire. They added the Palacio Gótico (Gothic Palace) as a more modern, comfortable residence.
- A World-Changing Room: This is when they built the Casa de Contratación (House of Trade). This is where Christopher Columbus came to meet the Queen after his voyages. You are literally standing in the room where the “New World” was managed.
- Later Kings: Later, Holy Roman Emperor Charles V added Renaissance-style elements (like the Palace of Charles V) in 1537. Later kings, like Philip III and Philip V, added their own grand halls (like the Salon de los Tapices) and Baroque touches, creating the glorious, layered masterpiece you see today.
The Alcázar Today: A Living Legacy
Today, the Alcázar is one of Seville’s top attractions, drawing millions of visitors to see its beauty and famous Game of Thrones filming locations.
The common thread you will see in every room is the tilework (azulejos). With over 150 unique Mudéjar and Renaissance designs, the tiles are the true artistic DNA of the palace.
And, most importantly, when the King of Spain visits Seville, he still stays here. The Upper Royal Apartments are his official residence, making the Alcázar not just a museum, but a living, breathing, 11-century-old royal home.
Alcázar Seville Historical Timeline: The Key Dates
Here is the fast-forward version of the 11 centuries that shaped the palace:
- 913: The original fortress was built by the Umayyad Caliphate.
- 1181: The Almohad dynasty rebuilds the fortress, adding defensive walls.
- 1364: King Pedro I begins construction of the Palacio Mudéjar, the heart of the modern palace.
- 1366: The stunning Hall of the Ambassadors is completed.
- 1477: The Catholic Monarchs Ferdinand and Isabella add the Gothic Palace and the Casa de Contratación.
- 1537: Emperor Charles V orders the construction of his own palace in the Renaissance style.
- 1598-1624: King Philip III adds new halls, including the Salon de los Tapices (Tapestry Room).
- 1729-1733: King Philip V adds more Baroque-style rooms.
- 1810: During the Peninsular War, French troops occupy the palace, causing damage.
- 1863-1874: Extensive renovations are carried out to restore the palace’s original Mudéjar features.
- 1909: The Alcázar is declared a national monument.
- 1987: The Alcázar, alongside the Cathedral and Archive of the Indies, is designated a UNESCO World Heritage site.
- 2017-2024: Major, ongoing conservation work begins, including the meticulous restoration of Mercury’s Pond.