Seville, Spain – Travel with Ken MacAdams Part Two
No visit to Seville is complete without a visit to the Royal Alcazar. Originally a 10th-century palace for the governors of the local Moorish state, this is Europe’s oldest still in use palace. Rebuilt in the 14th century by the Christian king Pedro I (by Muslim workmen), it features spectacularly decorated halls, courtyards, and gardens.
![alkazar by ken macadams](https://successful-photographer.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Alcazar-pools.jpg)
In the Garden Pool was a small statue of Mercury. This pool was fed by a 16th-century aqueduct.
There are distinctive Islamic-style flourishes seen in the archways, walls, and ceilings. As you enter, you’ll pass a rough stone wall, remnants of an older Moorish fortress, circa A.D. 913.
![alkazar by ken macadams](https://successful-photographer.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Hall-of-Ambassadors.jpg)
This image shows the painstaking attention to detail recorded on the walls and ceiling of the Hall of Ambassadors. All photos in this post © Ken MacAdams
In the Admiral’s Hall, Columbus recounted his travels, and Ferdinand Magellan planned his around-the-world venture. Queen Isabella realized Columbus’s New World discoveries could be big business. Here resides a model of Columbus’ flagship, the Santa Maria. In the center of King Pedro’s palace is the Courtyard of the Maidens, a big courtyard with a long pool in the center.
![alkazar by ken macadams](https://successful-photographer.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Arch-detail.jpg)
The Moorish doorways were left intact by the Reconquista Christians. Note the intricate detail in each arch.
Feeling his Alcazar a bit stark, the king hired Muslim workers from Granada – home to the famed Alhambra – to recreate its romance. This palace is considered by some as Spain’s best example of the Mudejar style. Subsequent kings, Philip II, and Charles V added their touches throughout the palace.
Seville, Spain part three Next Friday.
Ken has always loved to travel, so when he made a common connection with the fact that either a long day pounding the streets of some foreign city, or shooting the last dance at a wedding, a good part of his physical
![ken macadams head shot](https://i0.wp.com/successful-photographer.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Ken-MacAdams1_head_shot.jpg?resize=138%2C153&ssl=1)
weariness came from lugging around his big heavy DSLR. That’s when he started looking at alternatives – and ended up selecting Panasonic Lumix Micro Four Thirds gear.
Ken is rarely without a camera, and the next great photo travel experience – whether local or abroad – is always in the back of his mind! A longtime resident of the Four Corners, and when he’s not out on the road, he enjoys some of the great outdoor opportunities found there – mountain biking, hiking, and Jeeping.