Detail from the Peacocks Arch, Hall of the Ambassadors, Royal Fortresses, Seville, Spain, 2007 (photo)

The Royal Fortresses (Reales Alcazares) of Seville are a fortified palatial complex, originally a Moorish fort from the Almohad reign (12th century). Additions were made to the fort by Muslim and Christian rulers until the 16th century. The palace is one of the best preserved examples of Mudejar architecture. The Hall of the Ambassadors (Salon de Embajadores) was built by King Pedro el Cruel (Peter the Cruel) in 1427. The triple horseshoe arcades are earlier and date from the 11th-12th centuries. They are supported by pink marble columns with Moorish capitals and the walls are decorated with plasterwork and Azulejo tiles. On its western side, the beautiful Arco de Pavones, with peacock motifs, leads into the Salon del Techo de Felipe II (1589-91). Arabic inscriptions referring to Pedro I as 'Sultan' are carved in stucco. The Royal Palace of Seville was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1987.