Aljafería Palace — Attraction in Zaragoza

Before my visit, it was not clear to me whether tickets had to be purchased in advance or not, so as not to waste time in queues. I visited Aljaferia Palace on a Friday afternoon in September. There was no queue for tickets. The ticket office is a small booth outside the walls of the Aljaferia, on the side of Calle de los Disputados street.

As with many Spanish attractions in Zaragoza, the explanations are perfect in Spanish :-) , but there is no information in English. I had installed the Aljaferia Palace app. This app contains numbers, but unfortunately these numbers do not correspond to the numbers found in the various rooms. Well, how difficult is it to do something properly...

Coming back to the tickets. Apparently, you can take guided tours in English during the summer. September is no longer summer, so guided tours were only available in Spanish. Try booking a ticket in advance on the website, and I wish you luck understanding it... I see online tickets for locals, for students, for all kinds of groups of people, but not for a foreign (English-speaking) tourist who wants a regular visit without extras. Has anyone ever taken a critical look at this booking web page?

Although the style is also Moorish, it is not comparable to, for example, the Alhambra in Granada, which is much more beautifully integrated into the landscape and has much more beautiful gardens, water features,...

I never imagined an afternoon at a palace could feel like stepping into a story. From the moment I passed through the ancient moat and rounded the corner to glimpse the Torre del Trovador, I knew I was in for something special. As soon as I walked into the Moorish courtyard with its elegant arches and delicate carvings, I was transported back to the 11th century—this truly was the ‘Palace of Joy’ imagined by its builder, al-Muqtadir .

Wandering through the Golden Hall, I marveled at the arabesque patterns, marble plinths, and epigraphic design—they felt timeless and profound . Later, passing through the Gothic-Mudéjar Chapel of San Martín and into regal spaces added by the Catholic Monarchs—like the throne room—I was struck by how gracefully the palace blends Muslim and Christian eras .

Beyond its beauty, what made the visit memorable was the sense of living history at work. You’re not just in a museum—you’re within the seat of the Aragonese Parliament, where echoes of centuries past still mingle with modern life .

Tips for future visitors: Definitely book your ticket in advance—there can be long queues otherwise . A tour or guided audio option makes the layers of history come alive (though some noted the tech can be finicky) .

In short: walking through La Aljafería felt like turning the pages of Spain’s vibrant past. A soul-stirring gem that I’ll...

It is a fortified palace built as a residence for the kings of the Hudid Kingdom under the leadership of al-Muqtadir. The palace is believed to have been constructed between the 11th century, particularly between 1065 and 1081. The name of the palace derives from a linguistic evolution of the king’s name, Abu Ya'far. It was originally known as the 'Palace of Joy' or 'Palace of Happiness.' This is the only preserved example of Islamic art and architecture from the Taifa period. The exterior was designed as a modest, secular space, while the interior was arranged to create a serene and refined sacred space. As a prime example of Aragonese Mudejar style, the palace is characterized by intricate decorations, beautiful gardens, and Arab-style arches found within the palace. After Alfonso I the Battler conquered Zaragoza in 1118, the palace became the residence of the Catholic monarchs of Aragón. In 1593, it was converted into a military fortress, and in 1772, it was repurposed as quarters for a military regiment. The palace suffered significant damage during the Siege of Zaragoza, and it was restored between...