Moorish Seville

Alcázar of Seville (Palace of Pedro I, Courtyard of the Dolls)

Introduction

Seville was under Muslim rule from 712 until 1248. It served as the capital of al-Andalus under the Umayyad Caliphate until 716, when Córdoba assumed this role. During the Emirate and later the Caliphate of Córdoba, Seville prospered, although somewhat overshadowed by Córdoba, which became the political and cultural heart of Islamic Spain.

After the fall of the Caliphate in the early 11th century, Seville became the capital of the Taifa of Seville — an independent kingdom ruled by the Abbadid dynasty. This era was marked by regional conflicts that persisted until the unification of al-Andalus under the Almoravids by the early 12th century.

In around 1147, Seville was captured by the Almohads, who made it a co-capital of their empire alongside Marrakesh. This period saw significant urban development and the construction of some of Seville’s most iconic structures, such as the Great Mosque of Seville with its striking minaret — the Giralda — and the Torre del Oro, a watchtower built to secure the eastern bank of the Guadalquivir River. The Alcázar, the fortress-palace complex of the Muslim rulers, was also extensively remodelled during this time.

Architecturally, the Almohads favoured proportion, structural harmony, and simplicity over heavy ornamentation. This approach is well exemplified by the Giralda, designed as a tall, square minaret with a tiered structure and restrained decoration. Under the Almohad rule, the use of multifoil arches and sebka patterns (lattice-like ornamentations) was popularised and refined.

The capture of Seville by Ferdinand III of Castile in 1248 marked the beginning of the Christian era. The Alcázar became a royal residence and underwent further expansion, especially during the reign of Peter I in the 1350s and 1360s. His palace is likely the work of artisans from the Emirate of Granada, who may have also applied their craftsmanship in the contemporary developments of the Alhambra palace complex. The Palace of Peter I features characteristic horseshoe and multifoil arches, exquisite plasterwork, and elaborate tile decorations. The Great Mosque of Seville was eventually replaced by Seville Cathedral in the 15th century, with the Giralda preserved as its bell tower.

The influence of Islamic architecture continued into the 16th century through the Mudéjar style, which can be seen in various manifestations throughout Seville.

Sites

The portfolios showcase the most significant Moorish sites in Seville, dating mostly from the 12th to the 14th centuries.

Ibn Adabbas Mosque | Church of San Salvador (Plaza del Salvador & Calle Córdoba) | 829-830
Córdoba Gate | Calle Puerta de Córdoba (east) | c. 1125-1134; 16th century
Macarena Wall | Calle Resolana, Calle Muñoz León & Calle Macarena | c. 1125-1134; second half of 12th century; 1210s-1220s
Alcázar | Plaza del Triunfo, Calle Joaquín Romero Murube & Calle Miguel Mañara | 10th & 11th centuries (earliest structures); second half of 12th century (Almohad extension & walls); Ali al-Ghumari, late 12th century (Courtyard of Plasterwork); 1340-1350 (Hall of Justice); 1356-1366 (Palace of Peter I); Diego Ruiz, 1427 (Hall of the Ambassadors; dome); 15th century (Royal Bedroom; ceiling); Sebastián de Segovia, 1541-1543 (Charles V Ceiling Room; ceiling); Luis de Vega, 1540-1572 (Courtyard of the Maidens; upper storey); Martín Infante, 1589-1591 (Philip II Ceiling Room; ceiling); Juan Manuel Caballero & José Gutiérrez, 1847-1855 (Courtyard of the Dolls; upper storeys); 15th to 20th century (other additions & alterations)
Great Mosque & Giralda | Seville Cathedral (Avenida de la Constitución, Calle Alemanes, Plaza Virgen de los Reyes, Plaza del Triunfo & Calle Fray Ceferino González) | Ahmad ibn Baso, 1172-1176 (mosque); Ahmad ibn Baso, 1172-1186 (Courtyard of the Orange Trees); Ahmad ibn Baso, Ali al-Ghumari & Abu Layth al-Siqilli, 1184-1198 (Giralda); Miguel Perrin, 1519-1521 (Gate of Forgiveness; sculptures & relief); Bartolomé López, 1522 (Gate of Forgiveness; plasterwork); Hernán Ruiz the Younger, 1558-1568 (Giralda; belfry); Luis de Vargas, 1568 (Giraldillo)
Buhaira Palace & Gardens | Avenida de la Buhaira & Avenida Eduardo Dato | Ahmad ibn Baso, 1171-1172; 1892 (current palace)
Torre del Oro | Paseo de Cristóbal Colón (south) | 1220-1221 (lower level); 1350s-1360s (middle level); Sebastián Van der Borcht, 1760 (upper level)

This list could be expanded to include some lesser-known sites from the Taifa period, as well as other fortifications from the Almoravid and Almohad periods. The Mudéjar churches and palaces of Seville require a separate portfolio.