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Home > Travel Spain > Spain Attractions > Alcázar: A Royal Palace of Seville
Alcázar: A Royal Palace of Seville
The Alcázar of Seville or “Reales Alcázares de Sevilla” is an imperial fortress located in Spain. At the beginning a Moorish fortress, it has been prolonged many times since its construction. The first to construct a fortress in the location were the Almohades: Al-Muwarak. A large amount of the contemporary Alcázar was constructed over Moorish remains by King Pedro the Cruel or Peter I of Castile: construction started in 1364. He employed Moorish personnel to construct his fortress providing a definitely Islamic style.
The fortress is one of the most outstanding exemplars of mudéjar structural design, a technique under Christian regulation in Spain but influenced by Islamic architectural style. Succeeding monarchs have included their own elements to the palace. For instance, Charles V added gothic elements in clear opposition to the leading Islamic style. Some of the main designs are the Baths of Lady María de Padilla, The Courtyard of the Maidens and House of Trade.
The "Baths of Lady María de Padilla" are rain water tanks under the Patio del Crucero. They are called María de Padilla as the Pedro the Cruel’s wife. Apparently, Pedro wanted María and killed her husband. María opposed his actions and poured hot oil on her face in order to end Pedro's chase. She decided to become a nun and, after that, went to a convent. Thanks to that, she is now considered as a purity icon in the society of Seville.
The Courtyard of the Maidens refers to one myth that Christian monarchies have to give Moors a hundred virgins per year as tribute. The legend of the tribute may have been used as a fairy tale to reinforce the Reconquista group, but it may have had some reality to it in the sexual mistreatment of Christian girls by influential Moors.
The House of Trade (Casa de Contratación) is located in the Patio de la Monteria. The house was constructed by the Catholic sovereigns in 1503 to control and encourage trade with the New World. The House met trade related disagreements, but it also provided monarchs with a monopoly on commerce with the new territory called Americas. The House also integrated "Hydrographic Bureau and School of Navigation" for maritime research. It is significant the fact that Américo Vespucci was its first principal. "House" integrates a church where Colombus met with Isabella and Ferdinand after his second journey.
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