As we visited the Alcázar, students learned about what life was like within the palace walls.  In their journals that evening they were asked to write a narrative of historical fiction or a political satire comic to demonstrate what they had learned during our visit.  Here are a few examples of the students` work:

Maia Petrova

Another day, another b-e-a-utiful day in the Alcázar.  As the flowers and plants bloom in the main garden, I touch the water in the pool that reflects the image of the palace`s ground floor style.  Muslim designs of arches looks completely different than the second floor`s Renaissance style.  I enter the White Dolls Courtyard.  Why was it called that again?  Oh right, on the arches, there are small white painted faces of dolls.  Eleven to be exact.  As princess, I have the permission to enter the Sultan`s courtyard.  The room itself is in a cubic form and its ceiling is a semi-circle, representing the 7 heavens of the Muslims.  Such a wonder!  But not all of Alcázar is covered in Muslim design.  Christian design also can be found in the palace, but why Muslim design when a Christian king controlled the construction?  The king and the sultan commended his builders to go finish building the Alcázar based on their own style.  Which reminds me, some of the Muslim writing on the walls are messed up because the Christians tried to make them themselves! 

Natalie Gunther

The night made the garden dark and spooky.  My white lace wedding dress trailed behind me, catching bits of dirt.  I tiptoed down the steps and walked over to the rotunda in the garden.  There I sat down on a bench and tried to gather my thoughts.  I am Juana, Queen of Spain.  Some call me Juana la loca.  I just got married to King Phillip.  At first I was excited but now, knowing that I will be a wife and mother, it`s just so hard to grasp.  I just escaped my pos-wedding party, knowing that if I had stayed in that hallway faking that I am excited about being a queen, but now I`m scared.  My party was held in a large hall that ambassadors usually go to meet the king.  We had set up long tables filled with sweets, and the royal family and their numerous friends are crowded into a few rooms connected to a hall.  I had made my escape to the garden when no one was looking.  Now I`m trying to grasp the tremendous job of being a mother and wife.  I leaned over the edge of the rotunda to pick a ruby red hibiscus.  I inhaled the scent the pollen gave off, and tried to calm down.  I then discarded the flower and started to walk to the maze our gardeners made with green pine bushes.  I followed the path made by rocks, not really thinking of where I was going, just letting my feet guide me.  Soon, I reached the middle of the maze , letting my skirt riplle around me as I sank to my knees.  The moon bounced off the white beads of my dress and the diamonds in my hair, making me glow.  Soon I heard footsteps entering the center of the maze.  I looked up and it was Phillip.  "I thought I`d find you here," he said to me.  I smiled weakly.  "What`s wrong?" Phillip asked, noticing my smile.  "Oh Phillip, I`m so scared!  I`m going to give birth to a son, and I`m going to rule all of Spain!"  I sighed and then started to cry.  "I`m just so scared I`m not going to do a good job!" I said as tears ran down my face.  "Juana, don`t be afraid," Phillip said as he pulled me into an embrace.  "You won`t mess up.  I know this beacause I`ve noticed how strong you can be in a time of anxiety.  You are very powerful."  Phillip siad, wiping away my tears.  I smiled and looked up at my new husband, with love in my eyes.  When we both looked at each other, we drew closer and kissed.  Then I knew I would succeed being a queen because by my side was a man that would help me and support me.  We both loved each other with a passion no one else knew or had.

Maria Schizas

I was lying in bed on a Saturday morning.  Very unusual for me to do so, but something distracted me from getting up.  It was the first time I noticed how many designs my celing and bedroom walls had.  My father, King Charles V, said that my bedroom was designed by Muslim architects, but had a mixtrure of Muslim and Christian designs.  My ceiling was a dome with the symbol of King Ferdinand, the lion, and a castle.  My mother had told me once that the dome symbolized heaven.  The bedroom was a sqaure, which was the shape of the EarthMy father has told me that if heaven and Earth join, they create a universe in my room.  The design on the walls had many msaic tiles of colors of red, green, gold, and blue.  The design with these tiles were stars and flowers.  The dome was covered in gold and red with designs of stars, castles, and lions.  The floor was marbled, perhaps put down by my father, for some were coming out  and I could see other designs under the marble.  There were also portraits of previous kings of Spain on the walls in my room.  Four balconies were placed, one on each wall, where my father built the second floor in the patio with the big water pool in the middle.  This was the only time I actually noticed how much work and time was put in the building of these beautiful palaces of Alcázar, one being my room.

Arinola Folabi

Every morning I wake up and see a beautiful ceiling in front of me.  Being a princess is such an honour, living in a gigantic castle with beautiful gardens and waterfalls is so cool.  I am princess Elena and I live in Alcázar, Sevilla in Spain.  To me Alcázar is the most beautiful castle in the world.  The waterfalls are so amazing.  Everyday when I get back from school I do my homework in the orchards and play there.  They have the most beautiful flowers.  Alcázar has the tapestries and paintings of the wars and discoveries of some cultures in the world.  After dinner I always look at them for inspiration and start to try weaving my own little tapestries.  Alcázar is by far the best place to live.  The night usually ends with tea, when my mother and I gaze at the ceiling and sleep.