Best Palaces to Explore in Seville, Spain (2025)

The Real Alcázar of Seville is the crown jewel of the city — a living masterpiece that has witnessed more than a millennium of Spanish history. Originally built in the 10th century as a Moorish fortress, it was later transformed by Christian kings into a breathtaking fusion of Islamic, Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque architecture. The result is a dazzling labyrinth of courtyards, fountains, and intricately carved archways that feel almost dreamlike.

The palace’s Mudéjar Palace, built under King Peter I in the 14th century, remains its most iconic feature. Highlights include the Patio de las Doncellas, with its delicate arches and reflecting pool, and the Hall of Ambassadors, crowned by a golden dome symbolizing the universe. Every inch is a testament to the coexistence and blending of cultures that defined Andalusia.

Outside, the Alcázar Gardens offer a tranquil world of palm trees, tiled fountains, and orange blossoms. Their beauty has captivated artists, filmmakers, and travelers alike — so much so that the palace served as a filming location for Game of Thrones’ Water Gardens of Dorne. It’s not only Seville’s most famous attraction but also a timeless emblem of Spain’s royal legacy.

A lesser-known but equally captivating palace, the Casa de Pilatos is a stunning example of Andalusian nobility and Renaissance elegance. Built in the late 15th century by the Enríquez de Ribera family, it’s still privately owned and perfectly preserved. The house combines Italian Renaissance symmetry with Sevillian Mudéjar artistry, giving visitors a harmonious mix of cultures in one exquisite setting.

The mansion’s central courtyard, adorned with marble columns and blue-and-white azulejos, is one of Seville’s most photographed spots. Around it, visitors discover a museum-like collection of sculptures, Roman antiquities, and frescoes. Each room seems frozen in time, showcasing centuries of aristocratic life, from gilded ceilings to painted tiles that tell stories of ancient mythology and faith.

Stepping into the gardens, you’re transported into another era. Ornamental fountains trickle beside citrus trees, while balconies and stairways lead to private chambers decorated with 16th-century tapestries and paintings. Casa de Pilatos feels both intimate and grand — a palace where the Renaissance met the warmth of southern Spain.

Hidden along Seville’s Calle Cuna, the Casa Palacio de la Condesa de Lebrija is a treasure trove of Roman mosaics and historic art. Once a noble residence, it was restored in the early 20th century by Regla Manjón Mergelina, the Countess of Lebrija, a passionate collector and scholar. Her vision transformed the house into a living museum — an elegant Sevillian home filled with the finest artifacts from across Spain and the Mediterranean.

The ground floor showcases the Countess’s unrivaled collection of Roman mosaics, many rescued from nearby Italica, the ancient Roman city. Walls and floors glitter with marble, ceramics, and archaeological fragments, giving each room an almost museum-like grandeur. Yet the house retains its warmth, with patios full of natural light and touches of traditional Andalusian style.

Upstairs, the private apartments reveal the Countess’s refined taste — antique furniture, Flemish paintings, porcelain, and libraries filled with rare manuscripts. Every room reflects a different era, blending comfort with scholarship. Visiting the Casa de Lebrija feels like stepping into the mind of a collector who turned her love of history into an art form.

The Casa de las Dueñas is one of Seville’s most romantic palaces — and one that tells the story of Andalusian aristocracy through centuries of art and charm. Built between the 15th and 16th centuries, it served as the city residence of the Dukes of Alba, one of Spain’s most powerful families. Its blend of Gothic, Renaissance, and Mudéjar styles gives it an unmistakably Sevillian soul.

Visitors enter through a serene courtyard framed by orange trees and horseshoe arches. Inside, a series of patios, chapels, and galleries reveal a collection of art and furnishings accumulated over generations. Portraits of Spanish nobility line the walls, alongside ceramics from Triana and antique tiles that shimmer with Andalusian color.

Casa de las Dueñas is also famous as the birthplace of the poet Antonio Machado, whose verses were inspired by the house’s poetic atmosphere. Today, the palace is open to the public, offering a rare glimpse into noble life — intimate, elegant, and deeply tied to Seville’s artistic heritage.

The Casa de los Pinelo is one of Seville’s most refined Renaissance mansions, located just steps from the Cathedral. Built in the early 16th century by the Pinelo family — wealthy merchants of Genoese origin — the house is a perfect example of how trade and art flourished together in Seville’s Golden Age.

Architecturally, it stands out for its symmetry, marble columns, and intricate woodwork, reflecting Italian Renaissance ideals filtered through Sevillian craftsmanship. Inside, delicate Mudéjar ceilings, tiled courtyards, and decorative fountains reveal the elegance of a merchant family that embraced both wealth and culture.

Today, the Casa de los Pinelo serves as the headquarters of the Royal Academies of Fine Arts and Literature, keeping its artistic legacy alive. Visitors often come for exhibitions or guided tours that unveil its hidden patios and libraries. It remains a quiet oasis of scholarship and beauty in the heart of Seville.

Just outside the walls of Seville’s historic center lies the Palacio de los Marqueses de la Algaba, an impressive 15th-century palace that beautifully preserves the late Mudéjar style. Once the residence of noble families during Seville’s golden trading years, it has since been restored and converted into the Center for Mudéjar Art, celebrating one of Andalusia’s defining artistic traditions.

The palace’s façade is striking — a blend of brick, horseshoe arches, and geometric ornamentation that showcases Islamic craftsmanship at its peak. Inside, arched galleries frame tranquil courtyards where temporary exhibitions and cultural events bring history to life. The main courtyard, with its carved capitals and azulejo panels, is a masterpiece in its own right.

Visiting the Palacio de los Marqueses de la Algaba offers more than architectural beauty; it’s an educational experience. The museum explores how Mudéjar art evolved under Christian rule, bridging two worlds through design. It’s one of Seville’s most underrated gems — perfect for travelers seeking history away from the crowds.

The Casa Salinas is a private 16th-century mansion that has only recently opened to visitors, offering a glimpse into Seville’s noble domestic life. Hidden behind an unassuming façade on Calle Mateos Gago, it’s one of the city’s best-preserved examples of Renaissance-Mudéjar architecture. Its beauty lies in its balance: an elegant home where everyday life and art coexisted harmoniously.

The palace centers around a graceful marble-columned patio, surrounded by rooms adorned with colorful azulejos, carved ceilings, and antique furniture. Each corner seems carefully designed to catch the light and emphasize Seville’s indoor-outdoor lifestyle. Even the small family chapel and private study retain their period charm.

Still owned by the Salinas family, the house is maintained with extraordinary care, preserving its authenticity. Guided tours reveal stories of family heritage, craftsmanship, and tradition passed down for generations. Casa Salinas is a true hidden treasure — quieter than the Alcázar, but just as enchanting in its intimacy.

The Palacio de San Telmo is one of Seville’s most monumental and historically significant buildings. Originally built in the late 17th century as a school for navigators, it trained officers for Spain’s colonial fleets during the height of its maritime empire. Later, it became the residence of the Dukes of Montpensier, relatives of the French royal family, who transformed it into a grand aristocratic palace.

The palace’s Baroque façade, designed by Leonardo de Figueroa, is among the most ornate in Spain. Its sculpted red and ochre exterior, rich with columns, cherubs, and royal coats of arms, dominates the Avenida de Roma. Inside, lavish halls and grand staircases reflect the wealth and power of its owners, as well as Seville’s status as Spain’s gateway to the Americas.

Today, San Telmo serves as the seat of the Andalusian presidency, but parts of it open occasionally for cultural visits and events. Even viewed from outside, it’s a breathtaking sight — a reminder of Seville’s golden age when ships, silver, and royal ambition shaped the world.

Now transformed into a luxury five-star hotel, the Palacio de Villapanés is a masterclass in Baroque elegance. Built in the 18th century for Admiral Manuel López Pintado, the first Marquis of Villapanés, it blends aristocratic grandeur with refined Sevillian artistry. Its graceful courtyards, wrought-iron balconies, and marble staircases capture the splendor of noble life in the Age of Enlightenment.

The interior showcases original coffered ceilings, frescoes, and furniture from the era, seamlessly paired with modern comforts. Guests can sip coffee beneath chandeliers that once illuminated aristocratic gatherings or stroll through the peaceful patios surrounded by orange trees. Every space preserves the balance between opulence and intimacy.

Even if you’re not staying there, the hotel’s restaurant and courtyard bar welcome visitors, allowing you to experience a taste of 18th-century Seville in contemporary luxury. The Palacio de Villapanés perfectly bridges past and present — living proof that Seville’s palaces are not relics, but enduring expressions of its soul.