Aljafería Palace is situated in the neighbourhood of La Almozara in Zaragoza. This is the only remaining large conserved Spanish-Islamic architecture from the era of the taifas.
The castle became a royal residence of the Christian kings of the Kingdom of Aragón after Alfonso I of Aragón reconquered Zaragoza in 1118. In 1492, it was converted into the palace of the Catholic Monarchs before it was restructured into a military fortress, as shown by the addition of a moat and surrounding gardens.
Reconstruction of the original castle was built in the second half of the 11th century in the Taifa of Zaragoza (present day Zaragoza, Spain). The original palace, built in the plains of Saria, was damaged over the centuries by conquests and sieges. Centuries of urban redevelopment have made the site now in the city.
It looks pretty cool from the outside? Now get ready to step back in time when you walk into the palace and soak up all the amazing vibes from the glory days of the Taifa of Zaragoza!
The elements of each room are beautifully and intricately carved. The ceilings and floors of each room are elegantly decorated and represent the vestiges of Moorish architecture.
In 2001, the original restored structures of Aljateria were included and the site was listed as UNESCO Heritage site.
As the palace currently houses the regional parliament, access to the public is limited – the northside hall, the Golden halls and the Courtyard of Santa Isabel.
Strolling through rooms by rooms of this palace makes me wonder if the previous occupants are either tall with very strong legs or just spend all days wandering through each room. As a visitor, wandering around the rooms available to the public is tiring. What does it really feel to live in a home like this then?
Tip: Entrance fee EUR5,00 per adult. For other discounted or combined packages and guided tours, visit Aljaferia Palace official site. The ticketing box opens and access to the palace – Daily from 10:30hrs to 14:00hrs and 16:30hrs to 20:00hrs. To enjoy splendor of the palace away from the crowd, I would suggest arriving at the site early at the opening hours. Suggested to allocate 2 to 3 hours for the visit.