Real+Alcazar

=REAL ALCAZAR= The ALCAZAR of Seville is a combination of palaces which commenced in 1361, building onto existing Moorish constructions. The complex had been the home of Spanish kings for almost seven centuries and the upper sections are still used by the royal family today. It has stunning examples of Moorish architecture, which still flourished after the Christian conquest, and magnificent gardens with mazes and many water features and fountains which made the whole area quite cool despite the 30 degrees outside. //Little history lesson for you:// //The Moors, or Arab Muslims, ruled Spain for centuries – up to nearly 800 years in some parts – so even when the Moorish empire fell to the forces of the Catholic kings Fernando and Isabel, the typical Muslim architectural forms lived on through the// Mudéjar //style.// Mudéjar //architecture, created by Muslims living in Spain under Christian rule, incorporated the Muslim styles into Spanish architecture and continued to do so right up through the 18th century.// || ||
 * [[image:IMG_3719.jpg]] || [[image:IMG_3744.jpg]] || [[image:IMG_3740.jpg]] ||
 * [[image:IMG_3776.jpg caption="Part of the oldest section"]] || [[image:IMG_3713.jpg caption="Huge embroidered tapestries"]] || [[image:IMG_3757.jpg]] ||
 * [[image:IMG_3780.jpg]] || [[image:IMG_3774.jpg]] || [[image:IMG_3761.jpg]] ||
 * [[image:IMG_3749.jpg align="center"]] || //The beautiful geometric designs and patterns are everywhere and provide great examples of Mudejar style.//
 * [[image:IMG_3749.jpg align="center"]] || //The beautiful geometric designs and patterns are everywhere and provide great examples of Mudejar style.//
 * [[image:IMG_3785.jpg caption="External wall of the Alcazar"]] || [[image:IMG_3687.jpg caption="la Catedral"]] || [[image:IMG_3787.jpg align="center" caption="the Giralda, the tower attached to the Cathedral but originally part of the old 9thC Mosque"]] ||
 * [[image:IMG_3683.jpg caption="Torre del Oro - Muslim 13thC Defensive tower"]] || [[image:IMG_3812.jpg]] || [[image:IMG_3788.jpg]] ||
 * [[image:IMG_3805.jpg]] || [[image:IMG_3798.jpg]] || [[image:IMG_3797.jpg]] ||