|
Seville is a stop on the
Al-Andalus train tour - a classic, luxury
train tour of southern Spain
A recommended Spain Travel Agent
for arranging your stay in Spain
Spanish
food, Ceramics and Wine For Sale
|
The
Patio de la Monteria - The place to meet
up with the rest of the royal court to
join in the day's hunt. (Click photo to see in large
panoramic view)
|
The
Royal Palace was my first stop on
visiting Seville and on entering
the Patio de la Monteria, I was
reminded of one of the reasons I
find southern Spain so enticing.
The lavish and ornate styles of
architecture brought to southern
Spain by the Moors are just
breathtaking.
From the Plaza del Triunfo
you can enter the palace by way
of the Puerta del Leon.
|
Photo
above - The Gate of the
Lion marks the entrance to
the palace. |
The current palace is
built on the site of Roman fortifications
and an Almohada (Moors) palace from the
1100's. Most of the building on view
today was constructed after 1364. The
best parts in the Pedro I
Palace (the Salon de Embajadores,
Pato de las Doncellas and Salon de las
Munecas) were completed by 1366. In the
1500's Charles V added a chapel and
halls with vaulted ceilings. During the
exploration of the Americas, a wing was
added to the palace by Isabel to plan
expeditions and direct her rule over the
new Spanish territories. Keep in mind that all
parts of the palace have undergone some
restoration and renovation; some sections
of the upper floors are still in use by
the royal family.
If you are looking for
what remains of the Moors' Alcazar, you
will need to find the Patio del
Yeso (a courtyard I somehow missed on
my visit);
otherwise only the walls around the
Puerta del Leon are attributed to the
period of the Almohada rulers.
Photo
below - window
detail from the palace
of Pedro I in the Patio de
la Monteria. Note the modern glass
behind the Mudejar windows.
After entering through the Gate of
the Lion on the left and at the
end of the long courtyard, you might find
a doorway leading to the Patio de
Yeso. Otherwise, like me, you will
head straight into the Patio de la
Monteria. The most striking facade
in the Patio de la Monteria
is Padro I's palace; the other structures
were added later by Queen Isabel.
|
