¡Hola, fellow travelers! As your Seville expert, I’ve seen a huge wave of visitors over the last decade, and many of them are looking for one thing: Dorne.
Let’s be clear: if you’re a Game of Thrones fan, the Royal Alcázar of Seville isn’t just a “must-see”—it’s a pilgrimage.
Long before it became the sun-drenched capital of Westeros’s southernmost kingdom, the Alcázar, originally built in the 14th century, was a symbol of royal grandeur. But its cinematic blend of Mudéjar (Moorish-Christian) architecture, intricate tilework, and oasis-like gardens made it the perfect real-world setting for the Water Gardens of Sunspear.
When you walk through its arches, you’re not just in a 14th-century palace; you’re walking in the footsteps of Jaime Lannister, Prince Doran, and the Sand Snakes. Your Alcázar ticket is your all-access pass to Dorne.
Game of Thrones Filming Locations at Royal Alcazar
Your tour of Dorne begins the moment you enter the main palace. Four key areas were used for filming in Season 5.
1. The Hall of Ambassadors (Salón de Embajadores)
You cannot miss this. This is the magnificent throne room with the jaw-dropping, star-covered golden dome.
In Game of Thrones, this opulent hall is where Prince Doran Martell holds court. You’ll recognize it as the room where a wounded Jaime Lannister confronts Doran after being captured in the gardens.
2. Mercury’s Pool (Estanque de Mercurio)
This is the grand reflecting pool in the main gardens, with its central statue of the god Mercury.
It’s here, beside the pool and the Grotto Gallery wall, that Ellaria Sand angrily demands retribution from Prince Doran for her lover Oberyn’s murder. It’s the backdrop for that tense, public confrontation.
3. The Baths of Doña María de Padilla (Baños de Doña María de Padilla)
This is my personal favorite spot. These magical, vaulted cisterns (which are not actually baths) are where Ellaria Sand meets with her daughters, the Sand Snakes, to conspire against Doran and plot their revenge.
The eerie, beautiful atmosphere of the baths was the perfect, secret location for their treasonous plans.
4. The Alcázar Gardens
The gardens are used extensively as the “Water Gardens of Dorne.”
- This is where you see Myrcella Baratheon and Trystane Martell walking together, secretly in love.
- It’s also the setting for the infamous fight scene where Jaime and Bronn are ambushed by the Sand Snakes as they try to “rescue” Myrcella.
Game of Thrones Seville: Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some answers you may want to read before your visit –
What Game of Thrones scenes were filmed at the Alcázar?
The main scenes are from Season 5, when Jaime and Bronn travel to Dorne. This includes their capture, Jaime’s confrontation with Prince Doran in the Hall of Ambassadors, Ellaria’s plot in the Baths, and the fight in the gardens.
Can I take a Game of Thrones tour of the Alcázar?
Absolutely! While you can book many private “GoT” themed guided tours, you don’t need one. Your standard Alcázar ticket gets you full access to all four key filming locations. You can use this article as your own self-guided tour!
What other Game of Thrones locations are in or near Seville?
Besides the Alcázar (Dorne), there are two other massive locations. The Roman Ruins of Itálica (Santiponce), a 2,000-year-old amphitheater which acted as the setting for the Dragonpit in King’s Landing. It is a 20-minute bus ride from Seville. The bullring of the Town of Osuna was transformed into the Great Pit of Daznak in Meereen, where Daenerys rides Drogon for the first time. It is about an hour’s drive from Seville.
Was anything else filmed at the Alcázar in Seville?
Yes! Game of Thrones is the most famous, but the palace’s beauty has been on film for decades. Other major movies filmed here include Ridley Scott’s Kingdom of Heaven (2005) and the classic epic Lawrence of Arabia (1962).