Scribbler in Seville

Game of Thrones Season 5: the Water Gardens of Dorne, aka the Alcazar of Seville

 

seville, Sevilla, Alcazar, Game of Thrones

Moorish-style horseshoe arches in the Salon de Embajadores, as seen in Game of Thrones Season 5.

 

Mercury's Pool seen from the arch underneath the water spout - good for splashes on a hot day.

Mercury’s Pool seen from the arch behind the waterfall – good for refreshing splashes on a hot day.

The Baths of Maria de Padilla

The Baths of Maria de Padilla, reached through the gardens.

Appearing shortly on your television, if you’re as hooked on Game of Thrones as I am, will be the episode of Season 5 when we are fortunate to feast our eyes on Seville’s majestic Alcazar. Our mudejar gem takes on the role of the Water Gardens, private residence of the House Martell. Filmed here last October, this episode will introduce one of the city’s most beloved monuments, recognised as UNESCO World Heritage, with its exquisite plasterwork, intricate ceramic tiles, gold ceilings, and fairytale colonnaded patios, to a whole new international audience – the series is watched in an estimated 170 countries.

The series creators have mentioned on several occasions how perfect the Alcazar is for this palace setting, as described in George RR Martin’s series of books A Song of Ice and Fire. Co-creator Dan Weiss was quoted as saying “It is as if [the Alcazar] was designed for us many years ago.”

Built across centuries by a succession of monarchs, both Muslim and Christian, the palace is correctly named Los Reales Alcazares – the Royal Palace Fortresses, as there are three main separate-yet-linked parts – Mudejar, Gothic and Renaissance, plus one Almohad (Moorish) patio. One of the palaces’ most outstanding features are the coloured tiles, made in the Seville barrio of Triana.

Game of Thrones, Martell, Dorne, Seville

Prince Doran of Martell in the Water Gardens palace, in the Kingdom of Dorne, aka Seville’s Alcazar – notice the tiles. Photo: Canal+

We’ve already had a glimpse of the Alcazar/Water Gardens in Episode 2 of Season 5, when Prince Doran of Martell was talking to Ellaria Sand about his late brother, Oberyn. This bisexual rake and hedonist was Ellaria’s lover and father of her three (illegitimate) daughters, known as the Sand Snakes. Oberyn was a colourful, supremely self-indulgent character, silver-tongued and fast with a sword, who met a sticky end in Season 4. Ellaria wants revenge on the Lannisters, whom she holds responsible for Oberyn’s death, but Doran doesn’t want to start another war.

Seville, alcazar, Dorne,

The Water Gardens of Dorne, aka the Alcazar Palace in Seville. Photo: Canal+

Doran was sitting on a terrace in his Water Gardens palace, near the Dornish capital of Sunspear, watching his son Trystane play with his betrothed Myrcella Baratheon, daughter of the redoubtable, scheming Cersei Lannister. Lost? Then you’re not alone. The plot is complicated – there are seven kingdoms, and therefore seven families, or houses, to keep track of, with their intermarryings and interkillings, power struggles and alliances.

Enough about the characters – let’s check out the setting. Filming in a location can be a huge boost to the tourism industry, and Google searches for flights to Seville are reported to have gone up by 107% since season five started airing. Sevillano hotels and restaurants are sure to be rubbing their hands in anticipation of the many fans who will be inspired to come and tread the same ground as their favourite kings and princesses, knights and squires, and court whisperers. Game of Thrones was filmed in four parts of the Alcazar: the Ambassadors’ Hall, Mercury’s Pool, the Baths of Maria Padilla, and the gardens.

Seville, Sevilla, Alcazar, Dorne, Game of Thrones

Stunning gold ceiling of Ambassadors’ Hall, one of the areas of the Alcazar where Game of Thrones was shot.

Alcazar, Game of Thrones, Seville, Dorne

A view of the coloured plasterwork from the 14th century.

Salon de los Embajadores – Ambassadors’ Hall

The first is the most impressive and important, in appearance if not in size. A square room, open on all four sides with horseshoe-shaped arches, this was where the most prestigious visitors were received; it was the throne room of the original Muslim Palace. King Peter the Cruel had the room covered with inscriptions which embrace both himself and Allah, Christianity and Islam – Pedro was an enlightened king who respected both religions.

The Ambassadors’ Hall has an Arabian Nights feel, resplendent with beautiful decoration, including painted plaster mouldings, Arabic writing and handmade geometric tiles. Four balconies, which are supported by dragons, are a later addition.

IMG_4379

The salon’s most celebrated feature is its lofty gold domed ceiling with hundreds of tiny mirrors, added in 1427. This stunning 3-D vision is intended to show that above the monarch, there is only God. Symbolically, as well as aesthetically, it’s the most important salon in the palace. You will find this room at the far end of the Maidens’ Courtyard, an arcaded patio with a long pool and orange trees.

Game of Thrones, GOT, Seville, SEvilla, Alcazar

Mercury’s Pool, with the Italian grotto gallery to the left.

Game of Thrones, Alcazar, Grotto Gallery, Mercury's Pool

The Grotto Gallery behind Mercury’s Pool.

Estanque de Mercurio – Mercury’s Pool

The second location is at the far corner of the main gardens, next to the gallery: Mercury’s Pool. This was the cistern which supplied the palace, fed by the water brought from the nearby town of Carmona. The supply was carried along a Roman aqueduct, of which a small section still remains – the Caños de Carmona in the Nervion district of the city.

The bronze statue of Mercury with his winged helmet was added in 1575, when the pond’s purpose became purely decorative. As the god of trade, he refers to Seville’s importance as a mercantile city in the 16th century, when ships brought back great wealth from the New World. Behind the pool is the Italian grotto gallery, originally built to hide the old Almohad wall. This is constructed of volcanic rock, to resemble caves. If it is open, the view from the gallery to both sides of the gardens is spectacular.

On a hot day, walk under the stream of water which cascades from above into the pool – you’ll get splashed gently. This can offer a valuable few minutes’ of welcome, cooling fun and distraction for small children whose tolerance of history and old buildings isn’t high.
 

Entrance passage leading to the baths.

Entrance passage leading to the baths.

Beautiful reflections in the underground pool.

Beautiful reflections in the vaulted underground pool.

Baños de Maria de Padilla – Baths of Maria de Padilla

The gardens themselves conceal the third setting. In the Jardin de las Damas, the Damsels’ Garden, look out for a doorway which leads underneath the palace – this takes you down steps to a cool, dark corridor (a welcome relief from the summer heat) which in turn gives onto a long, narrow pool of water with low, vaulted ceiling, taking the eye towards a small grotto at the far end of the tank.

It is said that King Pedro’s mistress, Doña Maria de Padilla, would come here to seek solace in this subterranean gallery, which was open to the sky in her day. Now it is lit by openings in the floor above – the gothic vaults were added later, as was the Italianate grotto.

Seville, Sevilla, Dorne, Game of Thrones

Charles V Pavilion in the gardens of the Alcazares Reales of Sevilla.

The gardens between the palace and the Charles V Pavilion

Wandering through the Alcazar Gardens, you will pass tiled seats, pools, fountains where you can sit and contemplate the glories of Dorne and Seville; palm, cypress, myrtle, mulberry, magnolia, orange and lemon trees and, at the right time of year, cornflower-blue agapanthus or cerise-pink hibiscus.

The white arcaded building in the gardens is the Charles V pavilion, used by the Arabs who built the earliest part of the palace, as a Qubba – Muslim oratory, or domed building, in their orchard. It was restored in 1543 for Charles V, and boasts a coffered wooden roof, and originally was painted with frescoes both inside and out. Tiles benches around the outside offer a pleasant spot for a sit-down.

As the oldest European royal palace still in use – the Spanish monarchs stay in the upper floor when visiting the city – the Alcazares Reales are a must for for all visitors to Seville, especially those who enjoy location-spotting.

You can find a detailed explanation of each scene from Series Five shot in the Alcazar in another blog of mine here.

Open April to September: 9.30am to 7pm, October to March: 9.30am to 5pm. Entry 9.50 euros, retired and students (aged 17-25) 2 euros. Disabled, under 16s, born or resident in Seville: free. Scribbler in Seville hot tip: Mondays April to September 6pm-7pm and October to March 4pm-5pm: free.

Coming up soon: Daznak’s Pit, one of the fighting pits of Meereen, aka the bullring of Osuna.

15 thoughts on “Game of Thrones Season 5: the Water Gardens of Dorne, aka the Alcazar of Seville

    1. fionafloreswatson Post author

      Yes, in Plaza de España – The Phantom Menace – it was Naboo.

  1. Josh

    Must admit I was disappointed when Seville’s Alcazar got the nod over The Alhambra but having seen it on the show I must also admit that it is the perfect setting! Hope to see more of it in the next episode!

    Great post Fiona, from an earnest GOT fan 🙂

    1. fionafloreswatson Post author

      Thanks Josh, am trying to add more details as I find them out, another post coming on another Andalucian location to.

  2. Pingback: Game of Thrones Season 5: Osuna (The Fighting Pit of Meereen) | Scribbler in Seville

  3. Danika

    There’s nothing like a stroll through the Alcazar gardens… I love to imagine that I’m some privileged Moorish princess! Inside, it’s just as beautiful as the Alhambra in Granada, and the gardens are even more expansive (although be careful of peacock attacks – I’ve seen it happen before!), however I think the Alhambra just pips it at the post with those incredible views!

    It’s little wonder the producers chose to shoot there. I enjoy seeing the exposure on TV!

    P.S Loving the Spanish subtitles on those screenshots, it reminds me of having to watch it with my Spanish novio hahaha

    1. fionafloreswatson Post author

      I couldn’t agree more, the gardens sweep you away into another world, another age… I take the kids there on Monday evenings (free) every so often. The subtitles are a pain, but occasionally useful to confirm where the action is happening! The Alhambra is wonderful, and the views are stunning, but it is so packed always – although now that GOT has hit the screens, I have a feeling our Alcazar may become quite a bit busier. For me, one of the Alhambra’s huge advantanges are the views of the palace itself from the other side of the gorge – you don’t get that with the Alcazar.

  4. Pingback: The Real Alcázar, aka The Water Gardens of Dorne | trudymason.com

  5. Pingback: Seville: Second Time Around & Searching for Sand Snakes

  6. Pingback: Here comes the science… – Scribbler in Seville

  7. Pingback: Siviglia famiglia meraviglia – Happy by Choice

  8. Pingback: Enjoying our last days in Seville – Citadel Spain Study Abroad 2017 (Roca Medina Group)