Southern Spain was once Moorish Spain, and the architecture in the region was largely preserved, which is good because the moors were awesome interior decorators! Their attention to detail, skill with patterns and symmetry, and fine craftsmanship set the alcazars of Granada and Seville apart from the cathedral norm. Coming from Istanbul, the connection is easily made between the Islamic architectures.
In Spain, the defeat of the Moors, who were mathematical and quite tolerant, by Ferdinand and Isabella, who were pretty much the opposite, lead to the unified Spain that discovered America and harboured (hehe) the world's most formidable naval fleet. Ferdinand and Isabella were abominable with their inquisition and religious dictatorship, and there is, for me, sadness in visiting such splendor that the culture behind it was so harshly treated.
The Alhambra in Granada is the most visited building in Spain, and boy do those tour guides usher you through at warp speed! For this reason, the Seville alcazar shone, as our afternoon visit after the tour groups and in a light summer rain held an aura of enchantment that's hard to sense when surrounded by cameras snapping away.
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