On June 22  the XII Edition of The Nights in the Gardens of the Alcázar of Seville began where, once again and until September, it displays a full program of classical , ancient and the lesser known ancient Andalusian music  in different locations outside of this monumental palace in the heart of the Andalusian capital.

The Real Alcázar is located next to the Cathedral, the Giralda and the Archives of the Indies of the ancient Roman Híspalis. The building that has survived until today is the result of a consistent architectural transformation that began in the eighth century with the first Arab kingdoms, ending, almost at the beginning of XX Century.

Of all these buildings from different eras The Royal Alcazar is noted for its beauty and is the palace chosen by the Spanish monarchy in their visits to the city of Seville.

We specially mention, above all, its magnificent courtyards with fountains and gardens inspired by Al-Andalus and specially these gardens (Hall of the Grotesque, The English Garden, The Garden of the Poets, The Garden of the Bedchamber gazebo, The Garden of the Marquis de Vega-Inclán and The Cross Garden), where outdoor concerts are held.

There are no major symphony concerts. These evening gatherings are usually enlivened by musicians and quartets grouped as chamber ensembles of both classical music (Classicism, Romanticism and Nationalism) and old (medieval, Three Cultures, Renaissance and Baroque) giving  special priority to the Andalusian music. Others styles are also welcomed such as Flamenco rhythms, Jazz, Blues and Folk.

The program is renewed daily, and visitors in Seville spend a few days in town, where may attend every night a different representation. The month of July 2011 opened with the performance of one of the greatest “singers” of today’s flamenco scene, Jose Soto “Sordera”, accompanied on guitar by Salvador Gutiérrez. Day 2 is reserved for Sarmacanda Andalusian music group, whose members come from Morocco (Fez and Casablanca) and Spain (Badajoz). The over turn to classical music arrives on Monday the 4th, Tuesday the 5th and Wednesday the  6th with the concerts of the quartet Sono Reale chamber from Italy, the Spanish mezzo-soprano Amaya Dominguez and the cellists duo formed by the Belgian and English musicians Dirk Sasha and Vanhuyse Crisan.

Access is through the Jardines de Murillo throughthe door in the corner of the Avenida Menendez Pelayo on San Fernando Street, where the ticket booths open a few hours before the performance. You can also purchase tickets by electronic means.

The evening concerts of the Real Alcazar of Seville is one more incentive not only to visit Seville but also to see this beautiful area from another perspective.

Candela Vizcaíno

The best option to get to enjoy and attend these summer concerts is to rent apartments in Seville With this option you will be free to enter and exit the event both night and day.

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Translated by: Marc
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You think you already know it all about Seville, the art of flamenco, the delicious tapas, the gypsy music… but do you know that the capital of Andalucía hides some amazing treasures of architecture from all over the centuries? The city is unique in Spain and its architecture reflects all the richness of its history, starting with the influence of the Arabs. Seville was one of the first cities to fall into the hands of the Moors in 712, and was even from 1170 to 1212 the capital of the Moorish empire.

After the discovery of America, its harbor became the largest in Europe. Numerous goods were traded there and a mixture of cultures and populations invaded the city.

Come and discover with us the treasures of the city. We’ll begin our visit with:

The Giralda Tower

This magnificent tower is the former minaret of the Great Mosque of Seville.
When the Muslims were driven out of Spain, the mosque became a cathedral, and the minaret became…. a bell tower! The Arabs were so proud of their tower that they were considering destroying it before the arrival of the Christians. It is considered to be the twin sister of the Kutubia tower of Marrakech and of the great tower of the mosque of Al-Hassan in Rabat, Morocco.
At the top you can see a weathercock, “the Giraldillo”, which symbolizes the victory of the Christian Faith, a piece created by Bartolome Morel between 1566 and 1568.

The tower has been converted since the Arab time into the symbol of the city, and is adored by the population; it is even forbidden to build something that would be higher than the famous tower! You can even climb to the top which is an amazing 82 metres high, and enjoy a scenic view over the city.

The Cathedral

Next to the tower of the Giralda is the cathedral of Seville, built on the site of the former mosque. It is the largest Gothic cathedral in the world and the largest building ever built in medieval times. In 1928 it was declared a National Monument and classified by the UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Its appearance has evolved over the centuries; the only evidence of the ancient mosque is the famous Patio of the Orange trees. The cathedral houses many works of art, for instance the altar piece, one of the largest in the world (27metres high and 18 metres wide). In the Sacristy of Calices you could admire paintings of great value, such as the Santa Justa and Santa Rufina, both painted by Goya. You can also see the tomb of Christopher Columbus.

The Alcázar

Not far from the cathedral is another pearl of the architecture of Seville:
The Alcazar, the oldest royal palace in Europe. It is not a single palace but a series of buildings constructed by the monarchs since the Islamic time. Different styles come together, Islamic, Moorish, Gothic, and Renaissance. In the tenth century, Abdurrahman III built the first building, which was referred to as Dar al-Imara or “house of the Governor.” Only the ramparts remain. From the period of the Almohads remain the Patio del Yeso and a section of wall. The ornamentation of the patio has served as an inspiration for the great Alhambra in Granada. The architectural beauty of these palaces is so grand that you could spend a whole day contemplating it and trying to decipher from which centuries each part belongs to!

You must admire the great doors (1366), the dome, which was built in 1427, the rich decoration of the wall tiles, the large number of rooms that have kept their original furniture, and the chapel where the Virgin of the Sailors painted by Alejo Fernández is kept. It is also the first representation in Europe of the discovery of America!

The gardens of the Alcazar are amazingly beautiful and reflect the different styles of gardening used throughout the centuries. Over the years the gardens have been enriched with plants from all over the world.

Aren’t you convinced yet? Hurry up and book your trip and rent Apartments in Seville to enjoy the good weather and discover a wonderful and unique Spanish architecture. Andalucía is waiting for you!