The Alcázar (page 2 of 2 pages)

Left and center: towers at the east front; right: looking toward the King's Terrace, west end
		The east end of the Clock Courtyard The doorway leads to the front of the fortress and the chapel is on the left.
The west end of the Clock Courtyard
The sun dial, which gives the courtyard its name, is on the wall of the keep. At the bottom of the keep wall is an effigy of Ferdinand VI and the coat of arms of Charles I (originally on San Martín's Gate, demolished at the end of the 19th century).
		Exterior wall of the Chapel from the Clock Courtyard
Patio de Armas, designed by Francisco de Mora, 1593 A medieval courtyard, the doorways of which remain, had once provided an open space in the center of the residential part of the palace. During the reign of Philip II (1556-1598) a number of alterations were made, including the design of this parade ground, in the style of the Escorial. (Francisco de Mora was Juan de Herrera's student.) This elegant Renaissance courtyard has two storeys in granite with semi-circular arches on the first floor and a post and lintel structure on the second. Galleries are on three sides of the courtyard, which has a stone fountain at the center.

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Page created by Mary Ann Sullivan