The Aljafería

The Aljafería is considered one of the pinnacles of Hispano-Muslim art, along with the Alhambra in Granada and the Mosque-Cathedral of Córdoba.

It is the northernmost Islamic palace in Europe, as well as the most luxurious and best-preserved from the Taifa period.

The "Palace of Joy" was built as a country retreat for the Taifa kings outside the Muslim city, amidst orchards and irrigation ditches.

The plot of Giuseppe Verdi's opera "Il Trovatore" is set in the Troubadour's Tower of the palace, its oldest part.

In addition to housing three palaces: the Taifa Palace of Al-Muqtadir, the Palace of Peter IV, and the Palace of the Catholic Monarchs, it also served as the Tribunal of the Holy Office of the Inquisition.

Its Mudéjar art was declared a World Heritage Site. The Aljafería Palace has served various purposes throughout history, from a Hudid Islamic alcázar, a medieval Mudéjar palace, and a palace of the Catholic Monarchs, to its transformation into a fortress in the 16th century, a prison during the Inquisition, and a military barracks. Currently, it is the seat of the Cortes of Aragon. Its rooms hold secrets such as the "Mirhab," which served as a mosque or private oratory for the Muslim king and his court, built in the 11th century and oriented towards Mecca. It is accessed through a horseshoe arch doorway, inspired by the Mosque of Córdoba. Another of its secrets is the Marble Hall or Golden Hall, which was the main room of the Palace.