The Alcazar Gardens cover over six hectares and feature about 170 plant species.
It’s like combining gardening and artistic design to create a masterpiece.
The gardens at the Real Alcázar Palace are part of one of Spain’s oldest and most significant palaces.
They showcase a unique style called Mudejar that originated from Muslim artistic traditions but adapted to the Christian world.
Starting from their Moorish roots, these gardens underwent many changes.
This article shares more information about the Alcazar Seville Gardens, why you should visit them, tickets and more.
Why Should You Visit Alcazar Gardens
Visiting the 60,000 square meter Royal Alcazar Gardens offers a walk back in the eras of Spanish rule and Moorish influence.
You can trace over 1000 years of history through the gardens’ evolving landscape.
Appreciate creative styles fusing Baroque, Renaissance and Neoclassical design amid 170 botanical varieties.
You can see the Cross, Moorish and Poets’ Garden.
They will transport you between the past Islamic and Christian realms.
Promenade past gurgling fountains, ponds, fascinating galleries and relics dotting these crafted grounds.
You can gaze up at the palace façade from shaded pathways to absorb the grandeur of this Cathedral.
Royal Alcazar of Seville
Schedule a Visit
Alcazar Garden Tickets
The Royal Alcazar of Seville entry ticket grants access to the Garden and the palaces.
We recommend opting for online tickets for a smooth visit to the Alcazar Gardens.
This way, you can skip the long lines at the ticket counter and even enjoy some discounts.
Buying entry tickets online saves you time and ensures you get entry on your preferred day and time.
No need to worry about standing in queues or missing out – buying your tickets in advance online is the way to go.
The general admission ticket costs €19 for visitors between 14 and 65 years and €11 for senior citizens over 65 years.
Children below 13 years and students can get tickets for €1.
| Age | Ticket price |
|---|---|
| Adult ticket (14 to 65 years) | €19 |
| Child ticket (13 years and younger) | €1 |
| Senior Citizen ticket (66 + years) | €11 |
| EU Students with ID (14 to 30 years) | €11 |
Alcazar Garden Opening Hours
The gardens at Alcazar Seville have different hours depending on the time of year.
Between April 1 and September 14, the Seville Alcazar Gardens are open from 9.30 am to 7 pm.
From September 15 to March, the opening hours shift from 9.30 am to 5 pm.
The Alcazar of Seville is closed every year on January 1, January 6, Good Friday and December 25.
The Alcazar Gardens opening hours are as follows:
| Months | Opening time |
|---|---|
| January to March | 9.30 am – 5 pm |
| April to August | 9.30 am – 7 pm |
| September to December | 9.30 am – 5 pm |
History of the Alcazar Gardens
During the Islamic era, the Alcazar Gardens had diverse fruit trees.
They were horticultural treasures and a wide variety of fragrant blossoms.
These garden orchards served a dual purpose.
They provided sustenance for the palace’s inhabitants and beautifully adorned the surroundings.
The landscape featured an intricate network of water elements.
This included irrigation channels, ponds and pools, adding to the beauty of it.
The palace and its adjacent gardens significantly transformed during the Spanish Reconquista.
They incorporated Gothic and Romanesque elements.
This renewal marked a pivotal moment in the history of Alcazar.
Under the reign of Philip III, the influence of Italian design swept through this Garden.
Vermonda Resta, a renowned Italian designer, reshaped the gardens with an Italian Mannerist Style.
His conversion of the medieval Muslim wall surrounding the Grotto Gallery into a loggia is notable.
This loggia served as a vantage point that allowed observers to gaze upon the splendor of the palace gardens from a new perspective.
What to See at the Alcazar Gardens
At Alcázar Gardens, you can see a blend of history, nature and entertainment for visitors of all interests.
Islamic Gardens
The Moors brought Islamic influences in art, architecture and horticulture to Seville Alcazar.
The gardens of the Alcazar showcase key features of traditional Islamic gardens.
This includes symmetry, water, shade and intricate geometric patterns.
You can see elaborate pathways divide the space into four quadrants, with fountains and long pools.
The water helps cool the environment and adds tranquil sounds as it flows along stone tunnels.
Vine-covered pavilions and shaded seating areas provide relief from the hot sun.
You can find mosaic tiles decorating walls, steps, fountains and pools throughout this garden.
The Islamic style can be seen in Gypsum, Lion, Hunting and Maidens Courtyard.
You should also wander through the Grotto Gallery, Jardin de la Cruz and Dance Gardena and enjoy the Islamic Gardens.
You will find all these in the Renaissance Gardens, built in the late 16th and early 17th century.
See Over 170 Plant Species
The Alcazar gardens house over 20,000 plants of 187 kinds, making it a botanical tapestry.
You can find a variety of plants, from bougainvillea, wisteria, and jacaranda to fruit-bearing trees like figs, quince, persimmons and oranges.
Herbs and fragrant plants, including lemon verbena, honeysuckle, jasmine, laurel, lavender, myrtle, rosemary, and sage, add delight.
Various palm trees, such as date, palm, and Mediterranean dwarf palm, contribute to the greenery.
Visit The Set of Game of Thrones Magic
If you are a GOT fan, you would have seen the Alcazar of Seville Gardens as the Water Gardens of Drone in Seasons 5 and 6.
You can explore Dorne’s Water Palace of Sunspear here.
Witness the political intrigue between Dorne and King’s Landing, with memorable moments like Myrcella and Trystane’s rendezvous and Jamie Lannister’s clash with the Sand Snakes.
Attend Summer Concerts at Alcazar Gardens
Immerse yourself in the magic of warm summer nights with unforgettable performances in the Alcázar gardens.
Bring a picnic, lay back and create lasting memories under the stars, enjoying the best of the music world.
Additionally, during the summer, the Real Alcázar hosts exhibitions focusing on Easter week, the bicentennial of the Spanish War of Independence and climate change.
Major Alcazar Gardens
While strolling through the gardens of Seville Alcazar, you will come across many of them.
Here are some of the significant gardens inside the Alcazar that you must see:
Renaissance Gardens
The Renaissance Gardens lie parallel to the west facade of the Mudejar Palace and the south facade of both the Mudejar and Gothic Palaces.
You can find the Pond of Mercury, Garden of Dance, Trojan Garden, Galera Garden, Flower Garden, and Prince Garden here.
The major feature of this garden is the Andalusian garden heritage, redesigned in the Italian Mannerist style during Carlos V’s reign.
This transformation influenced the gardens and led to the remodeling of the south facade.
This turned it into a vast viewpoint adorned with windows and corridors.
Mercury Pond
The Mercury Pond was a crucial water repository for the palace complex.
Diego Pesquera’s design of the bronze statue of Mercury was brought to life by Bartolomé Morel.
It was accompanied by lions supporting shields and the pond’s railing
Morel is also credited with casting the Giraldillo atop the Giralda.
Grutescos Gallery
Stretching along the east side of the Mercury Pond for over 150 meters, the Grutescos Gallery stands as a remarkable theatrical set.
What was earlier the Almohad Wall, was turned into the Grutescos Gallery with an ornate stone structure under Architect Vermondo Resta.
Diego Esquivel later adorned the gallery with mythological scenes and exotic birds.
Now, the upper gallery serves as a viewpoint, offering magnificent views of the gardens.
Trojan Garden
Trojan Garden dates back to the 16th century when it was commissioned by Spanish Emperor Charles V.
Inspired by the legendary Trojan War, the garden displays the beauty and grandeur of ancient Greece.
Its rectangular layout is surrounded by high walls, creating a secluded and intimate atmosphere.
Lush greenery abounds, with orange trees, myrtle hedges, and fragrant rosemary bushes providing a feast for the senses.
The most striking feature of the Trojan Garden is its central fountain, with intricate sculptures depicting scenes from the Trojan War.
The centerpiece is a life-size statue of the Trojan Horse, a symbol of cunning and deception.
Dance Garden
The Dance Garden is positioned in front of the south facade of the Gothic Palace.
Dance Garden has decorated the Royal Alcazar since the 11th century.
Over time, the garden incorporated elements of Renaissance and Greek Mythology.
The garden displays a beautiful association with the ancient Greek myth of Dionysus, the god of wine, revelry, and fertility.
One of the garden’s most intriguing features is the “Fountain of the Sign.”
This central fountain, adorned with intricate carvings, holds a secret.
Visitors can decipher a hidden message by observing the angle of the sun’s rays falling on the fountain’s base, adding a layer of mystery to the garden’s allure.
Galera Garden
This garden is named after the galleys present in the central pond.
You can enjoy sunlight dancing on the pond’s water, creating exciting illusions.
The Galera Garden is filled with lush flowerbeds, blooms and fountains.
The garden’s design mimics the Mudejar Palace and Renaissance decoration of Alcazar.
Flower Garden
The Flower Garden of Seville Alcazar is a fragrant paradise.
Since the Moorish period, Flower Garden has offered a sensory feast to all the visitors.
You can see intricate flower beds filled with roses, lilies, jasmine and more.
The geometric arrangement of the flower bed is a visual treat and takes visitors to explore its hidden nooks and crannies.
Prince Garden
As you step into the Prince Garden, a sense of time travel envelops you.
It transports you to the oldest transept courtyard among the Renaissance gardens.
The graceful allure of the three-section Mannerist portal is a captivating sight.
With semicircular arches and a gallery, it shows the beauty crafted by Lorenzo de Oviedo.
The strategic location of the garden allows direct access to the Prince Hall of the Mudejar Palace.
Ladies Garden
A testament to sixteenth-century romance, the Ladies Garden is shaped by Islamic influences.
It commemorates the union of Emperor Carlos I and Isabel of Portugal.
At its heart is a central fountain adorned with a bronze statue of Neptune, surrounded by eight meticulously curated flowerbeds.
Moving south, the rustic opus graces the wall drafted by Vermondo Resta. It is reminiscent of Italian mannerist palaces.
The garden houses a unique spectacle – a seventeenth-century fountain with a hydraulic organ.
It is one of Spain’s three and plays an automatic melody every hour.
Lion Pavillion
The Lion Pavillion is the sole survivor of the two Diego Martín de Orejuela built in the sixteenth century.
This chapel-like structure has a colossal order.
It features a tile semicircular arch niche enveloped by a hemispherical vault.
Directly facing it, an anonymous fountain with a lion lends its name to the arbor.
It preserves the architectural grandeur of the sixteenth century.
Pavilion of Carlos V
The Pavilion of Carlos V embodies Cuba-inspired elegance and mimics the Granada’s Royal Cemetry of the Nasrid Palace.
It features a central body with a square plan covered by a hemispherical dome.
It was built in the Mudejar style in the mid-sixteenth century by Juan Fernández on Luis de Vega’s traces.
The exterior and interior, adorned with old tiles, show a mix of architectural mastery.
Four arcaded galleries, each with semicircular arches, gracefully enclose the exterior.
English Garden
This garden was born from the Huerta de la Alcoba remnants.
English Garden underwent a transformative journey at the dawn of the twentieth century.
While the land retained its agrarian essence, a garden with English influences emerged.
Garden of the Marquis de La Vega-Inclán
José Gómez Millán crafted it between 1913 and 1917.
El Jardín del Marqués de la Vega-Inclán, or Retiro Garden, draws inspiration from the Ladies Garden.
With flowing water in certain sections, the grid layout sets the stage for an elegant design.
Urns on pedestals, tile-clad benches and barriers contribute to the garden’s refined ambiance.
A pergola, constructed above one of the water wheels, completes the visual narrative.
It once irrigated Moorish vegetable garden.
Variety of Plants at the Seville Alcazar Gardens
The gardens are like a colorful canvas filled with more than 20,000 plants of different types.
There are a total of 187 different kinds.
You can see flowers like Bougainvillea, Agapanthus, Oleander and Wisteria.
There are also fruit trees like almond, orange, lemon, grapefruit, quince and persimmon.
Tall palm trees and fragrant plants like honeysuckle, jasmine, laurel, lavender and rosemary.
So, it’s not just a garden; it’s a vibrant, fragrant paradise.
Featured Image: Facebook(RealAlcazarSevilla)