Reales Alcázares de Sevilla

Alcázar is the name of the palace where Spanish kings and queens of the past and present stay while they are in Sevilla.  Originally constructed during Muslim rule, the royal houses were converted into a Christian palace after the Conquista.  The overall architecture is considered a mix of Christian and Arabic influences including lots of shapes, lions, and castles incorporated into the details of the mosaics and stucco wall designs.

In addition to the beautiful palace, the royal gardens were a sight to see.  I was not expecting the gardens to be so extensive, especially because they are protected and kind of hidden behind the palace.  There were water fountains, the royal baths, statues of Greek gods, different walkways, flowers, orange trees and even a maze!  As I learn more about Sevilla and visit the historical sights, I am continually surprised by how incredible everything is...I never know what to expect and always love the results.  Also, it is interesting to see the different effects of Spain's history on the city - the mix of Muslim and Christian architectural influences both here and at the Catedral is one example.