Royal Alcázar of Seville

The Alcázar began as a fortress of Islamic rulers: in the 11th century the Abbadid ruler al-Mu'tamid expanded it, and around 1150 the Almohads nearly doubled its size. After the Christian conquest, King Pedro I built the most celebrated part in the 1360s, a palace in Mudéjar style, the Islamic-inspired architecture of Christian Spain. Together with the cathedral and the Archive of the Indies, the Alcázar has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1987.

The heart of Pedro I's palace is the Patio de las Doncellas, the Courtyard of the Maidens, with a sunken garden and a long reflecting pool that lay buried under marble paving from the 1580s until its restoration in the 21st century. Next to it, the Hall of Ambassadors rises under a gilded dome above triple horseshoe arches and walls of tilework. Beneath the Patio del Crucero lie the vaulted Baths of Lady María de Padilla, and outside stretch gardens with fountains, pools and pavilions. Fans may recognise the palace as Dorne in Game of Thrones.

On Tiqets you can choose an entry ticket with an audio guide, a guided tour, a small-group tour or a private tour. There is also a small-group tour that combines the Alcázar with Seville Cathedral and the Giralda, which stand on the same square.

Book ahead in spring and around Easter, when Seville is at its busiest, and leave time for the gardens: they are part of the visit and easily the coolest place in the palace on a hot day.