The majority of those fortunate enough to feast their eyes upon the majestic complex that is the Alcázar of Seville share the same sentiment: its beauty is indescribable. This is a place that oozes opulence, a kind of opulence flavored by class and historical charm, rather than the garish flamboyance and tawdry ostentation often displayed by the nouveau riche. To say that the Alcázar is fit for the fussiest prince would simply be downplaying its splendor. Of course, this was exactly what the Alcázar was, and continues to be, for this fantastical compound is the oldest European royal residence still in use.

The royal estate, with 17,000-square meters of spectacular structures and 7 hectares of lavish gardens, is even more sublime in the nighttime. The rambling Moorish arches and the gorgeous detail of the fairy-tale turrets and curtain walls - from the striking shapes of the rectangular merlons capped with triangular cones to the coarse, aged texture and smears of damp discoloring the ancient facade - are all the more emphasized by the torches dotted throughout the premises. But following the departure of the nocturnal visitors, the interactive tour guides (clad in elaborate costumes of historical figures just hours before), and the last of the staff, the Alcázar, some say, becomes an intoxicating, sinister maze almost impossible to escape.

The Alcázar of Seville: The History of Spain’s Most Famous Royal Palace journeys through the eventful timeline of the palatial fortress as well as the stages leading up to its fruition. It also explores some of the fascinating characters who lived there, and the most pivotal events that took place within the centuries-old brick walls.