Sevilla

     After a jaunt around Granada we found ourselves in Sevilla, a city in Andalucia, where we toured more cathedrals and palaces of Spanish royalty. The cathedral was absolutely gorgeous, but I again did not have my camera (this time because the battery alternated between saying it was half full and almost empty... I optimistically decided that it was half-full, which was blatantly wrong). Thus no cathedral pictures, but the palace had some interesting features that are worth sharing.    
     Sevilla (or Seville in English) has a Mediterranean feel, illustrated by the vegetation surrounding the palace. 

     Due to the sweltering weather (it was about 90 in September) the first thing one comes across upon entering is a shaded mosaic room used for midday siesta escapes. As in the Alhambra, the mosaic stones are all hand placed in the most meticulous of manners. 

     The gardens are all lush despite the heat, and are apparently the perfect spot to raise a peacock family.

     The palace also sported Alhambra like ceilings, painted in gold and the deepest jewel tones. 

     The bedrooms were quite amazing as well.  The prince's quarters had no windows as a measure of protection. It was oblong, so that there would be room for troops to guard him, and between him and his army stood a mere sheet for privacy.  It was is this palace that either a Spanish or perhaps French heir to the throne died by heart attack whilst making love, forcing the retiring king to come back and rule for many more years. The women's quarters were heavily decorated with huge windows and patios, an apparent attempt at recreating Eden. This was because the women were not allowed to leave the palace, but the ruling family tried to make the building so beautiful that the women would never leave  by choice rather than force. The beauty within the palace can be seen in this inside patio that had been built over but then unearthed in later years. 

     Despite the resplendence of the palace I was most intrigued by the dungeons- the king, infatuated by his lover, honored her request to convert the dungeons into a bathing pool, as it was the area in the palace least subjected to the scorching heat of summer. The pool is shallow, but longer than some swimming pools, and at the end there are three holes- one for hot water, one for warm, and one for cool. 

     I enjoyed this part of the tour the most because the pool was created as a manifestation of the king's love with but one woman in mind, yet hundreds of years later the story is told to people all over the world who come to marvel at its innovation.