Real Alcázar – Pedro I Palace: Patio de las Doncellas – Ceiling of a corridor

Ceiling of a corridor of the Patio de las Doncellas in the Real Alcázar of Seville, Spain

Patio de las Doncellas – Corridor

Patio de las Doncellas – Corridor
The Patio de las Doncellas (Courtyard of the Maidens) is a rectangular courtyard with ornate corridors on all four sides. The image shows the ceiling of one of the corridors, and its location is section 3 in the Layout of the Pedro I Palace. Read: Pedro I Palace for more info.

Legend has it that the sultan of Cordoba demanded 100 virgins every year as a tribute from the Christian kings of the Iberian Peninsula. This courtyard owns its name to the maidens in the legend.

This courtyard resembles many open courtyards in the Alhambra and Generalife in Granada. For example, Court of the Myrtles in the Nasrid Palaces, Patio de la Acequia (Court of the Irrigation Canal) in the Generalife. This is because King Pedro I loved Moorish architecture and decoration and had a cordial relationship with the Nasrids, who sent master craftsmen to help build and decorate the palace.

As you can see, the wooden panel on the ceiling is exquisitely decorated with artwork containing gold inlaid shapes (medallions and polygons), with beautiful geometrical patterns interlaced around them. This beautiful piece of work is an excellent example of Mudéjar art, a style of decoration originated in Moorish Spain and is a fusion of Islamic and Christian art. Check the Mudéjar art on the ceiling of the entrance hall.

The courtyard was built by King Don Pedro (a.k.a Peter the Cruel) and the upper gallery was a later addition built by Charles V.

Other Patio de las Doncellas Images
Patio de las Doncellas (Courtyard of the Maidens)
Sunken Garden

Seville Pages and Posts
Real Alcázar of Seville: Pedro I Palace – A masterpiece of Mudéjar art and architecture
Real Alcázar of Seville: Casa de Contratación (House of Trade)
Seville Cathedral: An awe-inspiring architectural marvel
Sala Capitular – The Chapter House of the Seville Cathedral
Sacristía Mayor – The Main Sacristy of the Seville Cathedral
La Giralda: A harmonious blend of Moorish and Renaissance architectural styles
Las Setas of Seville – A modern artistic structure in a historical city

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