The Summer Palace

It got even hotter by the time we reached Sevilla.  Almost 40 degrees.  And we wondered if this travel was really accomplishing our goal of escaping the Dubai heat!

Nonetheless, refusing to let the heat stop us, we headed out late afternoon to Alcazar, the Spanish Royal Palace. 

The fortress was originally built by the Moorish Muslim Kings in the 1100s and the upper levels are still used by today’s Royal Family.

In 1364,  the city now in the hands of the Castile, King Pedro I commissioned the construction of a new palace at this same site.  His Palace was in keeping with the Moorish architecture (lobed arched windows and blind arches) of the original fortress, illustrating the peaceful cohabitation between the different religions.

The Moorish sections of Alcazar form the nucleus of the Palace and offer some of the best surviving examples of Mudejar architecture.

The Palace beautifully accommodates for the summer heat, using fountains, running water, strategic tile placement and masterful design to keep the air circulating and cool.

In addition, the Palace embraces some strategic layouts for enhanced safety and PR.  The main entryways, for example, turn left and right rather than forward to offer some protections against intruders and meeting rooms place the throne directly in front of the sunshine to illuminate and almost elevate the King to godly status in front of his subjects. 

Over the years, other monarchs have added to and updated sections of the Palace resulting in a diverse set of styles and artwork.  For example, many of the new additions were done in a Gothic style, with vaulted halls, decorated tapestries and art depicting saints and humans.   

Particularly notable was the Hall of the Admirals, an area designed by Isabella and Ferdinand in the late 1490s to welcome trade partners from abroad.   Having funding Christopher Columbus’ travel toward the now-realized Americas, Isabella anticipated a great deal of trade with the region and Sevilla was a natural landing point to welcome them.  The large portrait in the hall includes a small picture of Columbus, one of only a few pictures captured of him during his lifetime. 

Surrounding the Palace are magnificent gardens, spanning what seemed like an eternity.  They house flora and fauna from all over the region and each area seems to have a different style.  Most intriguing to us was an organ, powered entirely by hydraulics,  that sang a short song every hour. 

Unfortunately, even the shaded gardens could not provide enough relief for the heat of the day.  So, naturally, we decided to head back to our hotel, change our clothes and head to a breezy rooftop bar with a beautiful view of the cathedral to enjoy a refreshing beverage.