For six centuries, the Alcázar remained the residence of the Spanish kings. The upper floor of the palace is still used by the royal family to this day. The palace was built by King Pedro I in the mid-14th century on the site of an Arab fortress and incorporated many of its halls and buildings.
After passing through the Hunting Court, where the King's retinue gathered before hunting, you enter the residential part of the palace, preserved from Arab times - the Plaster Court and the Dolls' Court. The windows of the royal bedrooms overlook this area. The Maiden's Court is famous for its exquisite mouldings created by the best masters of Granada. The dome of the Ambassadors' Hall is covered with gilded wooden carvings with intricate patterns. The symmetrically arranged triple horseshoe arches in the hall are richly decorated.
On the first floor is the palace church of Charles V, decorated with 16th century tapestries and tiles. Behind the palace are gardens with terraces, fountains and pavilions.
