Alcázar of Seville

One of the best examples of Mudéjar architecture and the oldest royal palace still in use in Europe. Part of the complex still serves as an official royal residence. The gargantuan palace complex was originally a Moorish fort and is surrounded by vast gardens.

You enter the palace into the Lion's Patio through Puerta del León which takes its name from the lion depicted above the gate. The gate is right next to the cathedral, so if you have just finished exploring it, you can move straight to the palace.

The following patio (Patio de la Montería) is named after the hunters who gathered here before they went out and it is bordered by the Mudéjar style facade of the Palacio Pedro I.

The main patio of the complex, Patio de las Doncellas, served as the central meeting place. It is surrounded by beautiful arches and it leads to several halls which were usually used for ceremonial purposes - check out the decorations and different architectural styles of the halls.

The royal gardens consist of several parts of different styles, such as French, Italian or Arab. They are decorated with a number of statues, fountains, and ponds.