Splendid Sights And Gruesome Tales in Seville's Real Alcazar

One of the most fascinating legacies of Southern Spain's Moorish heritage are the many castles or citadels which were left behind when the Moors were expelled from the Iberian Peninsula. While most of these fortresses have become little more than ruins, other have survived as protected attractions - and in the case of the Real Alcazar in Seville, have even continued to serve as a home of royalty, admired and preserved in all its splendour.

The Royal Residence, the Real Alcazar of Seville

Many Spanish cities (especially in the south) have an alcazar, which means 'fortress' in Arabic. One of the most famous of these is the Alhambra in Granada, whose red-tinted walls on a hilltop overlooking the city have become an international symbol of Moorish Spain. Unlike the Alhambra, with which it is frequently compared, Seville's Alacazar is located smack in the middle of the bustling city in its picturesque Moorish quarter, close to the Cathedral (Seville’s other famous attraction).

The Alcazar has been the home of royalty for centuries. At one time Ferdinand and Isabelle, two of Spain’s greatest rulers, lived in the Alcazar, and it was here that they welcomed Columbus back from his history voyage. Today, the Alcazar is considered the oldest castle to be used as a royal residence in Europe. Spain’s modern monarch, King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia, still stay in the Alcazar during visits to Seville. You can even take a tour of the royal apartments where the king stays when he’s in town — though for that, make sure you go in the morning! Read more...

Check out our amazing Seville hotels here!  Or Click Here for More Travel Articles
 

I used to hate carrying around a full bottle of aftershave, now I put sufficient in a little bottle which formerly held hotel shampoo and it makes carrying to much easier.
- Alastair Mcfarlane, UK


Put all your clothes inside plastic bags. Place a large bath towel to line the bottom of you suitcase so that the ends will fold over the plastic bags when packing is finished. By doing that, in the event that your case/bag bursts open your contents should remain fairly secure.
- Ursula Rogers, Ireland


Keep all your old underwear – don't throw them away. Bring them along for your next trip, wear and throw there. So that you will not need to wash them, and save luggage spaces.
- Lim Wei Peng, Singapore


When traveling, laundry can be a challenge and a costly affair if one were to use the laundry services offered by hotels. An alternative to washing your underwear in the wash basin, is to put them all in a zipper net laundry bag of the type used for washing push ups, and ask if the hotel laundry service can accept that bag as one item (instead of charging per piece of underwear, resulting in a hefty bill). The laundry bags are also useful for separating dirty underwear from clean ones in your luggage.
- Cecilia Harlitz, Sweden


Have some used plastic shopping bags in your luggage for keeping your items apart (underwear, office attire, footwear, etc). This is especially useful when you have to pack for your next destination before you can get to do the laundering.... keeping the soiled/used clothers apart from the clean ones.
- Annie Young, Singapore

Always bring enough memory cards for your digital camera when traveling in Egypt. You will not be able to find a CD burner in all the Internet cafes to enable you to download your beautiful pictures ...To add to your surprise, even hotels do not provide such a facility...

We (I and my friend) did not opt for printing the pictures as we had not much time (The tour group could not afford to wait for us). We found a photo printing shop and pleaded to help to burn all the pictures...And this costed us USD 25! This really burned holes in our pockets...We learned that the CD burners were banned in all local shops (even in the computer shops) as a way to eradicate pirated CD products. We learned the lessons the hard way...From that time onwards, we always remember to set the size of the image before we take any pictures using our digital camera...Sob~ Sob~

- Leong Woei Kian, Malaysia

Before packing lay out all the clothes you think will be needed for the trip and then put 50% away!! Believe me it works and it will make for easier as well as lighter travel.

WHEN PASSING THRU SINGAPORE'S CHIANGI airport always make sure you have swimming gear in hand luggage. Even on a re-uelling stop there will be time at the transit hotel for a shower or swim. Ideal before or after the 13 hour flight to the UK

Always pack a Universal plug. Many countries do not provide plugs for the sink in the bathroom. It will avoid irritation especially when shaving and also save water.
- Len Coates, UK


If you're flying to another country wear a jacket or vest with an internal pocket. Your passport and plane tickets etc can then be placed in here before you commence the process of boarding a plane. I found this so much easier and faster than constantly opening and closing my handbag or back pack.
- Lyn Lowes, Australia