Europe’s oldest continuously used palace and UNESCO World Heritage Site Principal entrance to the Royal Alcazar.This passage was added by the Castilian monarch Pedro I (who reigned from 1350-1369) to provide direct access to his royal residence. The gate takes its name from the heraldic lion, a symbol of the Spanish crown’s power and protection. The grounds are made up of palaces and gardens built in different historical periods. Architecture combines Islamic, Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, and Romantic and Mudejar art.