Alcazar of Seville (Sevilla)

The Royal Palace of Seville - Real Alcázar de Sevilla Spain

Want to visit Alcazar Sevilla, the Royal Palace of Seville? The Real Alcazar is the absolute highlight of Seville Spain, but it has limited access. Read here how to book tickets:

Royal Palace of Seville (Real Alcazar)

Alcazar of Seville - visit the royal palace

The Real Alcázar de Sevilla is the Royal Palace of Seville. The name 'Alcazar' means castle in Spanish and is derived from the Arabic word al-qasr (fortress or palace). The complex of palaces is in the Mudéjar style, which is a architectural style with many influences from Moorish and Christian culture. It is probably the oldest palace still in use in Europe; when King Felipe V visits Seville, this UNESCO-listed palace is still his residence.

History of Royal Alcazar Palace in Seville

In the year 913, Abd-ar-Rahman III (the first caliph of Al-Andalus) gave the order for the construction of a castle on this site where a Roman fortress once stood. The castle was further expanded into a palace by King Al-Moetamid (the last king of the Abbadid dynasty) in the 11th century. In the 14th century, the Spanish recaptured the palace from the Moors, after which King Alfons X of Castile expanded the palace. In 1364, King Peter I of Castile ('The Cruel') ordered the construction of a new palace, the Alcázar, after which his successors continued to build the palace.

^{Patio of the Alcazar Seville}

^{Reales Alcazares}

Sightseeing in the Royal Palace of Seville

Located in the 'patio of the virgins' is an elongated pond, surrounded by sunken gardens and a gallery with serrated arches with access to the reception rooms. Also impressive is the Salón de Embajadores (Ambassador's Hall), which boasts a magnificent dome made of carved cedar wood.

Another historic building is Casa de Contratación. In this contract house, which dates from 1503, King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella received the explorer Columbus. All Spanish trade with the New World was managed from here. It also includes a nautical college led by Vespucci. The Alcazar palace complex also boasts beautiful, extensive gardens: from Moorish, to Renaissance style, with many ponds, exotic trees, shady footpaths and pavilions.

Tips for visiting Real Alcazar

The Real Alcazar Palace is definitely the number one attraction in Seville and should not be missed during your visit of Seville. To avoid the disappointment of standing in long queues in hot temperatures and to prevent sold-out tickets (as no more than 750 visitors can visit this palace at the same time), we recommend that you buy your tickets online during the popular months.

^{Special details in the Alcazar Palace}

^{Gardens of the Alcazar Seville}

Video of the Alcazar Palace

Where is the Royal Palace in Seville?

The entrance to the Royal Palace of Seville is located in the historic centre, just behind the cathedral. Here you will find the Plaza del Triunfo with the Archivo de Indias. You will easily find the entrance of the palace from this square.

Note: This is not the official website for Reales Alcazares. This website is made for the purpose of selling tickets & tours in Seville and does not directly represent Alcazar Seville in any way. For the official website visit alcazarsevilla.org

Close to the palace are also:

Catedral de Sevilla

Casa de Pilatos

Barrio de Santa Cruz

Archivo Gen. de Indias

FAQ Visit Royal Alcázar of Seville

That is definitely recommended! Due to the visitor limit, the palace often has long queues, which means that in high season you may not be able to get there until the end of the day. You can avoid this disappointment by simply reserving online Alcazar tickets. You can book tickets for a fixed time slot to visit the amazing palace.

No, it is important that you arrive within your booked time slot. If you miss your time slot, the Alcazar will almost certainly not let you enter.

You have a few options. Often the Sevilla City Pass still has availability and the other option is that you join one of the organized tours with a guide, which have more availability in a shorter term. More info Alcazar tours and tickets.

The main sights are the huge cathedral where you can climb the Giralda tower, Plaza de España square near Maria Luisa park, the Santa Cruz historic center, Torre del Oro and Metropol Parasol. Read all about the Seville sights.