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| you can find them everywhere in the city |
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| a beautiful sight for the eyes, a bad smell for the nose |
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| in front of Archbishop's Palace |
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| or the General Archive of the Indies |
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| or even on Constitution Avenue |
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| and the Cathedral |
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| with someone taking a nap in Maria Luisa's Park |
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| or empty |
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| ready to leave a passenger |
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| and welcome the next one |
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| located in the middle of the parque Maria Luisa |
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| this unique Sevillian symbol |
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| is made up of a semicircle of astonishing magnitude |
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| marked by two 80 meter high towers |
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| a small river runs between these two pointed masts |
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| staggered by bridges |
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| and there is a walkway following a series of panels made of painted azulejos |
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| and many tiled alcoves each representing a different province of Spain |
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| Castellon |
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| Coruna |
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| Gerona |
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| Madrid |
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| Malaga |
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| Tarragona |
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| Toledo |
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| it finished in 1928 and was used as the host country pavilion in the 1929 Expo |
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| covered in reddish brick |
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| cut and sized with numerous pieces of painted and glazed polychrome ceramic |
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| a symphony of tones and shimmers that come to life in the light of dusk |
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| representative of much of the regional architecture |
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| a mixed style inspired by the Renaissance with typical elements from the city: exposed brick, ceramics |
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| and wrought iron |
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| tiles and ceramics |
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| in vibrant colours |
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| splendour and grandeur |
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| Real Alcazar in the Plaza del Triumfo |
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| Puerta del Leon - the main entrance to the palace |
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| Seville experienced its period of greatest splendour under the dynasty of the Almohads at the beginning of the 12th century |
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| The crowned lion of the Gate reminds us that the area we are about to enter is a royal site |
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| The Almohad Walls |
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| The Patio de la Monteria |
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| The Pario de las Doncellas |
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| Caliphal art - extendly seen in the Throne Room (or Ambassadors' Hall) |
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| Galeria de los Grutescos |
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| "The highest, noblest, most powerful all-conquering King Pedro I, King by grace of God, of Castile and Leon ordered these gardens, palaces and gates to be built, which were done in the year of our Lord fourteen hundred and two" |
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| A residence for governors, sultans, caliphs, emperors and kings |
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| A typical Andalusian patio |
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| The punctum, as usual, is the fountain |
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| Staircase leading to the Cuarto Real Alto the upper royal apartments which today are the official residence of King and Queen of Spain in Seville |
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| Decorative motifs and tilework |
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| A recreation of Paradise - the Patio de las Doncellas |
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| When folded open, doors like these have a decorative function, their designs reminding one of tapestries or carpets |
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| Arch ornaments and carvings |
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| The Salon de los Tapices - a Baroque room adorned with a number of tapestries from the Conquest of Tunis series |
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| Wooden eaves decorated with stalactite-work typical of Toledo overhang the Mudejar Palace facade |
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| "They never hear any nonsense therein, nor sinful utterances. Only the utterance 'Peace, peace'. Those of the right side will be on the right side. In lush orchards. Fragrant fruits. Extended shade. Abundant water. Many fruits. Never ending, never forbidden" - from The Koran |
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| Tilework dado |
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| Most of the doors in the Mudejar Palace were designed by master builders from Toledo |
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| "Those who obey Allah and His Messenger will be admitted to Gardens with rivers flowing beneath, to abide therein forever" - from The Koran |
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| The walled palace originally built by the Abbadids is the oldest palace of the Castilian king. King Pedro I built new additions and remodeled other parts with exuberant Mudejar décor |
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| Seville's mythical origins are celebrated in a popular verse: "Raised by Hercules, Julius Caesar fortified me, with high walls and towers, I was conquered for the king of heaven by Garcí Pérez de Vargas" |
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| A metal detail |
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| An atmosphere enlivened by the murmuring of the fountain |
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| The Jardin de las Flores pond is decorated with 16th century tiles and typically Mannerist-style seashells |
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| The Hornacina de Carlos V niche dominates the courtyard |
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| This courtyard called The Patio de las Doncellas (courtyard of the maidens) was the centre of the public area in the palace. According to numerous legends, its name commemorates the payment of a tribute of a hundred damsels |
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| The main courtyard is surrounded by arches and sebka panel or diamond-pattern decoration. The shell (symbol of fertility and life), the hand of Fatima (synonymous with protection) and other figurative forms of doves and monkeys are constantly repeated |
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| Beautifully carved and painted wooden door |
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| Old style purity |
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| Stairway adorned with glazed ceramic tiles |
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| Getting a glimpse of a cool and shady world - Jardin de Troya |
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| Beauty and symmetry |
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| Artistic treasures |
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| The Italian-Manneristic style "Jardin de las Damas" was created during a period when the concept of the garden changed from the Muslim idea of the garden to a large open space in which courtiers could promenade |
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| Galeria del Grutesco: In the early 17th century, an Italian artist transformed the old Muslim wall into a loggia of fanciful forms from which visitors could admire the view of the palace gardens. It is open on both sides with columns of white and red marble possibly dating from the caliphal period |
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| Seconds before facing a marvel... |
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| The Pond of Mercury with its wall decorated with frescoes of mythological figures |
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| Mercury surrounded of cherubs and monsters with water spouts in their mouths |
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| Art and Faith |
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| Luxurious tapestry |
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| Salon de las Fiestas |
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| Leading to gardens of diverse styles |
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| Dominating blue skies |
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| Water flowing from above |
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| The Gods' Messenger |
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| The water cascading from above is driven by a motor and even today the pool is used to irrigate the adjacent gardens |
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| Castile-Leon on tiling |
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| Fine metal craftwork |
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| Ivory and Brussels lace |
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| In the Sala de Audiencias |
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| "Ad Utrumque" ("Prepared for all") |
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| Within its walls there remain echoes of memorable figures and events from every era |
