Seville.  A wonderful city. I’ve been here before, and hope to be back.  Modern and historical.  Full of energy and life, and yet calm at the same time.  I think it’s the influence of spots like this Alcazar. Originally the site of a Roman fort, then a Moorish fort, then an Almohadar palace, and in its current incarnation, rebuit in 1364 after the reconquest by the Catholic King, Pedro The Cruel.

The owners of this place lived well, as you can see.  And overall, the Alcazar of Seville (from the Arabic  al-qasr, meaning “palace”) is a truly calming place.  The richly decorated walls have a hypnotic effect, and the extensive gardens provide a cooling respite from the intense Seville summer heat.