Remember, I mentioned the Alcazar in the Seville Cathedral post. I was watching a BBC program on my travel companion 's IPAD (I think I'm now the only person without an IPAD) and I saw footage of the Alcazar, which I sought of had already dismissed. How could it measure up to the Alhambra in Granada, or Cordoba? Anway, the program changed my mind.
On Monday we went to the Alcazar.
It's both a fort, and a palace to conduct the affairs of governement, whether it is the Moors or the Spanish in charge. This is the Throne room (pictured above)
This is my highlight (pictured above). The Moorish courtyard.
The palace's gardens are amazing. There is also a nice cafe overlooking the gardens where you can have an expresso and a piece of cake.
Massive tapestrys hang from the walls, reminding visitors what Seville and Spain was all about in those days - Spanish galleons arriving with their precious cargo bringing the wealth from the New World. Seville was chosen, because it is 80km up river from the sea port, Cadiz, because it was safe from pirates. In particular the Protestant English 'Sea Dogs', and the worst one of all, according to the Spanish was the great 'El Dracque" - Sir Francis Drake. It was Drake himself who led the devastating raid on Cadiz to provoke the Spanish Armarda and with his cousin, Hawkins, so instrumental in its defeat.
The significance of the defeat of the Spanish Armarda in 1588 by the English was the beginning of the end for Spain. It was a massive victory for England, the church bells rang out all over England, and the captured flags of the Spanish Fleet were hung from the walls of St Pauls. It was the beginning of Britain's 'Empire of the Seas'.
To give you an idea of the wealth that was pouring into Spain; Drake captured one Spanish Galleon, which was worth in today's money - $120 million dollars. But, all this wealth was only possible if the Spanish could control the sea lanes - if the galleons could make it back to Seville.
Soon, we are moving on to the Netherlands, and to the next great sea power, The Dutch.
We are going to Amsterdam.
TRAVEL INFO:
The Alcazar
Seville (next to Seville Cathedral)
website: http://www.alcazarsevilla.org/
Ticket: 8.50 Euros
hours: October to March: From Monday to Sunday, 09:30 to 17:00.
April to September: From Monday to Sunday, 09:30 to 19:00.
Travel Tips:
- You can just buy tickets at the door. It's not that crowded.
