Tour of the Real Alcázar

This week we visited the Real Alcazar of Sevilla, where the students took a tour with our local guides. The construction of the Real Alcazar, or Royal Palace, dates all the way back to the 8th century. We learned about the unique mudéjar architecture, which refers to the mix of the original Islamic structures and the Gothic and Renaissance elements added during the Spanish Reconquista. Our tour guides also taught us about the herraduras, which are the distinctive horseshoe shaped arches seen all around the palace, as well as azulejos, or colored tiles, that adorn the floors and walls. The next day, students were taken to a ceramics workshop where we created our own "azulejos", inspired by the ones seen on our tour.