While the Alcazar looks like a fort from the outside, from the inside it clearly has much in common with being a palace
than being a fort.
Purported it was built as a fort in the early 10th century, and has undergone many transformations in the over 1,000 years
since then. When the Christians captured Seville in 1248, the Christian Fernando III moved into the Alcazar.
Exterior view of the Alcazar.
Click on the above image for a higher resolution view.
Even when the Alcazar was controlled by the Christians, the Christian king at the time would often improve the palace through
the services of architects and workers who were Muslims and Jews (from Toledo and Cordoba). Purportedly this was because
the king felt he could not trust his fellow Christians.
Another exterior view of the Alcazar.
Click on the above image for a higher resolution view.The entire
complex was expanded signficantly later, especially the area of the gardens. Purportedly after a major earth quake, a large
part of the landscaping (of the gardens) were filled in, and a new set of gardens built on top.
Interior view of the Alcazar. gardens
Click on the above image for a higher resolution view.
