The Alcazar
Originally a fortress occupied by the Visogoths in medieval times, the Alcazar became the palace for the Emirs of the Calipate of Cordoba after the Moors conquest of Cordoba in 716. The Alcazar is located on the other side of this pleasant park.
The entry is guarded by a statue of Saint George.
Inside a series of pools march to the west (right), and the actual palace is on the left.
Beautiful koi in the pools.
The fortress wall and tower offer some great views of the grounds as well as the city.
To the west are the gardens and pools, and part of the palace.
To the south are the gardens as well as the palace courtyard.
To the east is the chapel and part of the palace courtyard, with the city in the background. Roman Bridge on the far right. The bell tower of the Great Mosque on the left.
The courtyard of the palace is filled with orange trees, and a beautiful water pool. The entrance to the formal gardens to the left. In addition to being used as a palace, the Alcazar was used by Isabella and Ferdinand as a tribunal of the Spanish Inquisition, converting much of it into torture and interrigation chambers in 1482. It remained as such for three centuries. In 1810 Napolian Bonaparte's troops used the Alcazar as a garrison. In 1821 it was converted to a prison and remained as such until the 1950's when the Spanish Government made it a tourist attraction and national monument.
Start of the gardens.
Looking back to the palace from the bottom of the second long pool.
The gardens stretch south of the pools.
Full of beautiful, manicured flower beds and water features.