Mudéjar Art. 👑
King Pedro I (known as "The Cruel" or "The Just") hired Muslim craftsmen from Granada to build this palace in the 1360s. The result is "Mudéjar"—Islamic style under Christian rule.
Patio de las Doncellas
The Courtyard of the Maidens. The lower level is pure Islamic art with intricate plasterwork (yeseria). The upper level was added later in the Italian Renaissance style.
Hall of Ambassadors
Look up. The "Media Naranja" (Half Orange) dome is a gilded wooden masterpiece representing the universe. It was the throne room.
Infinite Geometry. 🔷
The walls are covered in ceramic tiles ("azulejos"). In Islamic art, depicting living beings was forbidden, so they perfected geometric patterns that symbolize the infinite nature of God.
The Colors
The vibrant blues, greens, and ambers are centuries old. They were created using mineral glazes that have not faded under the fierce Andalusian sun.
The Technique
The "alicatado" technique involves cutting glazed tiles into small shapes with pliers and fitting them together like a puzzle. It is incredibly labor-intensive.
The Dolls' Court
Look closely at the plasterwork in the Patio de las Muñecas. You might find two tiny faces carved into the abstract patterns—a rare deviation.
Royal Peacocks
Living Jewels
The Green Labyrinth. 🌴
The gardens are vast, occupying 75% of the complex. They act as a natural air conditioning system for the palace.
Hydraulic Organ:
Listen near the Mercury Pond. There is a 17th-century hydraulic organ (Fuente del Órgano) that plays music using only water pressure. It is one of the few surviving examples in the world.
Water Gardens of Dorne. ⚔️
HBO filmed the Water Gardens of Dorne here. They didn't need CGI; the Alcázar is already a fantasy setting.
Grotto of the Sultans
The underground baths (Baños de Doña María de Padilla) under the Patio del Crucero. The rainwater tank creates a perfect mirror reflection of the arches. It is cool, dark, and haunting.
Mercury Pond
The raised walkway above the Mercury Pond is where Prince Doran Martell watched his family play. It offers the best view over the gardens.