WOMEN’S COURTYARD

From the balconies of the Hall of Mosaics, contemplating the southern part of the Alcázar, we can see the so-called Patio de las Mujeres.

Entrance to the Alcázar

Since the end of 2023, the main access to the Alcázar of the Christian Monarchs is through the Baroque Door as before, this new access has ramps for the disabled, and modern ticket offices.

NAME

It receives its name because at the end of the 15th century, during the time when the fortress was used as a prison by the Inquisition, this patio was where the female inmates were found.

HISTORY OF THE WOMEN’S COURTYARD

In the middle of the 20th century, it was intended to build a congress palace in the same place and for this reason the old prison cells were demolished. However, the importance of the remains found made the operation fail and the lot was abandoned. The excavations that subsequently took place in this place between the years 2002-2004 brought to light abundant archaeological remains such as the Roman Wall from the 1st century, along with an important port area, as well as a mosaic from this date outside this wall with an aquatic theme.

Also a Castellum, or watchtower, attached to this Roman wall that would have the function of protecting the Roman Bridge and the river port, and vestiges of the old Umayyad Alcázar from the 8th century, and superimposed remains of another palace built in the Almohad period during the 12th century, which still houses walls up to 6 meters high in its northern area, and a large sewer from the same period that runs through the entire Women’s patio.

Patio de las mujeres Castellum

LATEST FINDINGS

In February 2023, during the works to improve the accessibility of the Alcázar, a large Almohad arch from the last third of the 12th century was found behind the so-called Baroque Door, which had been hidden by it. This new discovery would confirm the existence of an important Almohad intervention in the area.