Spain Blog #55: Seville: Alcazar Palace: Part 2: History, OCD Nightmare

A tapestry that showed an ancient map of Spain

In today's blog about our vacation to Spain (in May) you'll explore the History of the Alcazar Palace, one of the most famous and historic landmarks in Seville, Spain.  We'll also tell you why it is an "OCD NIghtmare!" 

THE OCD NIGHTMARE PALACE-  Tom is an architect, and freely admits that he's OCD... So he said that the palace is an "OCD nightmare" because nothing is square, everything is weirdly shaped and there is no balance or symmetry.

RENOVATED OVER TIME

Depending on who ruled and lived in the palace at the time, they made renovations. For example, Renaissance artists contributed magnificent pieces to the Alcazar’s artistic treasures. The tiled altar that stands in the chapel of the Catholic Monarchs was made by Francisco Niculoso Pisano in 1504. There's also a pictorial altarpiece preserved in the Admiral’s Quarters, dedicated to the Virgin of the Seafarers. This altarpiece comes from the House of Trade and was created by Alejo Fernández in 1536.

The Alcazar Baths

The Bourbon monarchs of the nineteenth century did not fail to leave their own powerful stamp on the Alcazar. They re-arranged the spaces on the top floor of the building, refurbishing some of the halls in the style of that century, and decorating them with tapestries and chandeliers, clocks, furniture and an impressive collection of paintings.

THE BATHS - Underneath the palace are huge baths and pools. The tanks that hold the water for them are called the "Los Baños de Doña María de Padilla."

  Or in English, they are the "Baths of Lady María de Padilla." They are the names of the rainwater tanks beneath the Patio del Crucero. The tanks are named after María de Padilla, the mistress of Peter the Cruel. Those tanks feed into the pools. 

Rob and Tom in the Bath area 

GET THE HIGHLIGHTS FROM HERE - for the REST OF THE BLOG: http://www.sevillaonline.es/english/seville/alcazar-palace.htm

NEXT: ALCAZAR'S GARDENS