Exploring The Cathedral And Alcazár in Sevilla, Spain,

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Sevilla, Spain from above

The Cathedral of Sevilla as seen from the minaret/bell tower

Once a Muslim minaret, now the cathedral bell tower

The tomb of Christopher Columbus in the Cathedral

One of the courtyards of Sevilla's Alcázar Palace

Magnificent Moorish plaster arches and decorations

Domed ceiling at the Alcázar Palace

More Moorish architecture

Alcázar Palace tile work from the time of Holy Roman Emperor Charles V of Spain, commemorating his marriage to Isabella of Portugal.

Sevilla night life

One of the lounges at Hotel Alfonso XIII

Best Sangria I have ever had. At Hotel Alfonso XIII

The courtyard of our Sevilla Hotel: Hospes Las Casas Del Ray De Baeza

How to describe the beauty and the spirit of Sevilla, Spain?  The only way I can: through photos.  Home to the third largest Cathedral in Europe and of the splendid Alcázar Palace complex,  the City effortlessly blends its glorious past with a vibrant present.
Much like Toledo and Córdoba, Sevilla was built on Roman and Visigoth ruins, and still bears signs of the Moorish era from the 8th to the 13th Century.
Reconquered by Christian King Ferdinand III of Castile in 1248, some of the Moors' magnificent edifices were repurposed.  The Alcázar Palace, with its elaborate plasterwork and gardens became the Castilian royal residence. To this day, it is used by the Spanish royal family when they visit Sevilla.

The gothic Cathedral of Saint Mary, built in the 15th century, also bears witness to the Moorish period.  It was built on the original site of the Almohad mosque. The bell tower, for example,  was once the mosque's minaret.  

The cathedral contains the splendid tomb of Christopher Columbus, though recent DNA tests apparently reveal that only 20% of the tomb's content belonged to the famous but controversial explorer.

Sevilla is a vibrant city with an amazing street life.  Lined with eateries that stay open till late into the night, there is nothing better to do than to adapt to the locals' schedule and stay up, drink delicious wine, and eat tapas.

The next stop on our trip is Granada and the Alhambra . More soon.

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