Patio de las Doncellas and Hall of Ambassadors: The Geometric Cosmos
Why is it significant?
Step out into the quiet sunlight of the Patio de las Doncellas—the Courtyard of the Maidens—and look down the length of the long reflecting pool framed by sunken orange tree beds and scalloped plaster arches.
Key Facts
| Place | Patio de las Doncellas and Hall of Ambassadors: The Geometric Cosmos |
|---|---|
| Address | Patio de las Doncellas, 41004 Sevilla, Spain |
| Geo Coordinates | 37.38350, -5.99080 |
| Part of Walk | Imperial Seville: The Real Alcázar, Giralda, and Columbus's Tomb |
| Generated | Generated |
Step out into the quiet sunlight of the Patio de las Doncellas—the Courtyard of the Maidens—and look down the length of the long reflecting pool framed by sunken orange tree beds and scalloped plaster arches. Proceed through the carved wooden door into the soaring Hall of Ambassadors, and tilt your head straight up toward the ceiling.
Suspended high above you is a breathtaking wooden dome composed of thousands of gilded cedar pieces interlocking in intricate star patterns, created in fourteen twenty-seven to represent the rotating celestial universe.
The courtyard's poetic name originates from a persistent medieval legend that Moorish rulers demanded an annual tribute of one hundred virgin maidens from Christian kingdoms across Iberia.
Step down into the cool shadows beneath the palace to visit the vaulted Baths of Lady María de Padilla.