The Royal Alcázar is arguably the most extraordinary royal palace in Europe. Built by the Christian king Pedro I in the 1360s, it was designed and constructed almost entirely by Moorish craftsmen using the full vocabulary of Mudéjar architecture — honeycomb stucco, geometric tilework, horseshoe arches, and garden courtyard pools that create the illusion of infinite space. The result is a palace that looks, feels, and functions like a Moorish court while belonging to a Christian king.
The complex grew over centuries, with additions from different monarchs layered over the Mudéjar core. The Gothic Sala de Justicia, the Renaissance rooms, and the early 20th-century additions all coexist within the same walls. The gardens, with their orange trees, fountains, and pavilions, extend for more than seven hectares and are reason enough to visit on their own. Book in advance — queues can be very long in spring and early summer.