Jardines de los Reales Alcazares (Royal Palace Gardens), Seville (must see)

The gardens of the Royal Palace of Seville are the grandest late- medieval gardens anywhere in Europe and possibly, the world. After 1248, the year of the Christian Reconquista of Andalusia, the craftsmen and artisans of Seville developed the style known as Mudejar. "Mudejar" means "allowed to stay." The Moorish styles remained.

During the 16th century Seville was the richest city in Spain. The designers of Charles V focused on Renaissance styles when creating follies and gardens. The old garden spaces remained but the pavilions, gazebos and labyrinths were another matter. The alcazar gardens of Peter I enclosed pools, fountains, and niches of glazed tiles.

The plantings of the gardens include palms, cypress, myrtle, berries, magnolia and citrus trees. When the orange trees drop their oranges, the air is filled with the scent of jasmine and oranges. The Alcazar gardens are a cluster of mazes, pools and intimate paths, palm trees and fountains. It is almost too much sweetness to bear.