Art Built Upon the Sands of Time: The Alcázar Palace in Seville

In the heart of Seville, as you stroll through the alleyways next to the cathedral, a majestic palace suddenly unfolds before your eyes. This is none other than the **Real Alcázar**. The term 'Alcázar' originates from the Arabic word for 'castle,' and this site is the oldest royal palace in Spain. Remarkably, it is the only palace in Europe still actively used by the Spanish royal family. Its history dates back to the 10th century during the Islamic dynasty. Even after the Reconquista (the Christian reconquest), the Islamic architectural style was preserved. Over time, Christian monarchs added their own tastes, culminating in the exquisite Mudéjar style we see today.