Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos

Description

The Alcazar of the Christian Kings is an ancient fortress of the Christian monarchs, comprising of a castle, beautiful gardens and a Moorish bathhouse. Built by Alfonso XI in the 14th century, the Alcazar is one of Cordoba’s major landmarks and is definitely worth a visit. In the 15th century, Ferdinand and Isabella governed over Castile from Alcazar and also welcomed Christopher Columbus from this important location. Since 1984 the fortress has been a world cultural heritage site as it houses several remarkable artifacts and roman mosaics. While the building encircled by massive walls and four towers are quite impressive , the most notable feature of the Alcazar is its Moorish gardens with ponds, fountains, orange trees, a plethora of colorful flowering plants and a promenade of statues of the monarchs. A stroll through these beautiful terraced gardens is the highlight of a visit to the Alcazar while the towers offer stunning views over the city and gardens. A light and sound show is held regularly in the evenings and is quite lovely; however this show is not held every night.

Ticket Price

Adults- 4.50/7 Euros Children below 14 – free entry

Opening Hour

Sunday-Monday 8.30am-7.15pm Tuesday-Friday 8.30am-8.45 pm

Recommended Visit Duration

Around 2 hours or more

Suitable For

Adults, senior visitors, young adults, families, children

Must See

The beautiful Moorish gardens, stunning views of the city and the Alcazar gardens from the tower

Prayer Facilities

While Muslim tourists will not find prayer facilities at the Alcazar, they will be able to locate suitable facilities in the city of Cordoba. Aside from the Islamic Cultural Center of Cordoba, the city houses several small mosques and prayer rooms. Muslim tourists could either visit the Islamic Center or offer their prayers at one these mosques or prayer rooms. They could get directions at their hotel to a nearby mosque prior to leaving on their days activities.    

Halal Food

Although the Alcazar complex does not house a restaurant within its premises, Muslim tourist looking for Halal restaurants will be able to find a few in the city of Cordoba. However they may have to visit areas where the mosques are located, since most of these restaurants are located in close proximity to the mosques.