Secrets of the Alcazar of Seville

There are many reasons to visit Seville to soak up the very essence of Andalusia, attend one of their multitudinous events, indulge in exquisite cuisine or unveil one to one of your artistic and historical treasures. And in each of these visits, it's always worth to shop around for the Real Alcazar of Seville, and that never ends to exhaust the list of details, curiosities and secrets hidden in this magnificent treasure of time.

The Real Alcázar de Sevilla is a mosaic of palaces from different eras and architectural styles that coexist in remarkable harmony. A magical aura surrounds the whole, and the legends that arose around him and form part of the rich heritage of Seville.

Virtually every room of the palace is a myth that redefines and has much more of what you see. As the Patio of the Maidens, perhaps the most famous and photographed the Alcazar. According to legend, the Muslim rulers of Seville demanded the Christian kingdoms in the north and the annual tribute of 100 virgins delivery, in addition to high amounts in cash. The reason for this room received over time this name is unknown. What is clear is that the 100 virgins were a popular myth in the Middle Ages it was used extensively to justify and popularize the Reconquista wars among the Christian population.

We know that the Reconquista not mean the expulsion of Muslims from Spain, which did not occur until 300 years later. Continued to work for Christians, as architects and craftsmen, giving rise to the Mudejar art. One of the Castilian kings more renovations made in the Moorish Alcazar was Peter the Cruel. And so, in the same Patio of the Maidens you can see beautiful arabesque inscriptions on the walls that define him as "Sultan of the believers." A great example of political realism and adaptation to the ground.

Another place that hides Alcazar a legend in his name are the Baths of Maria de Padilla. They are not really a bathhouse, but an underground cistern beneath the Arabian Courtyard Cruise. The same Pedro I the Cruel and Sultan of the Mudejar seems to be madly in love with was a lady named Maria de Padilla. He did everything he could to seduce her, even to murder her husband, until she finally, in desperation, he disfigured his face with boiling oil to curb the real impulses.

The so-called Court of the Dolls also has a history. This is mostly a courtyard decorated with columns and capitals from the palace of Medina Azahara hiding some small human faces. Nine are said to be the faces of the dolls and discover without help bring good luck.

In any case, every yard, living room and corner of Alcazar has its legend. The same goes for its beautiful gardens, scenery worthy of the Thousand and One Nights. At the reception of most hotels in Seville can hire a tour with an expert guide, not only to keep going with so much beauty, but also to listen carefully to the stories told about each of its stones.