Puerta Real (Seville) facts for kids
(Calotipo)_1850.jpg)
The Puerta Real was a very old and important gate that was once part of the city walls in Seville, Andalusia, Spain. Until about 1570, it was known as the Puerta de Goles. People believed this name came from a Muslim version of "Hercules," whose statue was said to be on the gate. Today, only a small part of the wall where the gate stood remains. You can find it where the streets Alfonso XII, Gravina, Goles, and San Laureano meet.
Historians think this gate was built during the time of Sultan Ali ibn Yusuf (1083-1143), which means it was from the Almoravid period. Some old stories, told by historians like Rodrigo Caro, even say that Julius Caesar built it! They thought "Goles" was a changed version of "Hercules," to whom the gate was supposedly dedicated.
The gate was completely rebuilt in 1565. All its old military features were removed. Inside, it had two small chapels: one for Our Lady of Mercy and another for the Christ of Redemption. Sadly, the Puerta Real was torn down in 1862. In 1995, some work was done on the remaining wall, which still shows where this historic gate once stood.
How the Gate Got Its Name
For a long time, kings and queens of Castile usually entered the city of Seville through another gate, the Puerta de la Macarena. This was a tradition for their first official visit and when they swore their loyalty to the city. For example, Isabella I of Castile (in 1477), Ferdinand II of Aragon (in 1508), and their grandson Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor with his fiancée Isabella of Portugal (in 1526) all used the Macarena gate. Charles V and Isabella of Portugal even had their engagement party in the Alcázar that same year.
However, Ferdinand III of Castile entered through this gate in 1248 when he conquered the city. Later, in 1570, a special event changed things. A group was planning the first and only visit of King Philip II to Seville. They found some problems with him entering through the Macarena gate, unlike previous kings. So, without everyone's full agreement, they decided King Philip II should enter through the Puerta de Goles instead. They said the area around the Macarena gate was too crowded and had narrow streets, which would be difficult for such a big event.
Because of this important visit, the gate stopped being called Puerta de Goles. It was renamed the Puerta Real, which means "Royal Gate." Later, in 1624, King Philip IV visited Seville. He went back to the old tradition and entered through the Puerta de la Macarena. So, the Puerta Real was only used for this one very special occasion.
A Special Plaque
Today, you can find a special marble plaque at the intersection of San Laureano, Alfonso XII, Gravina, and Goles streets. It's in a small square where a piece of the old Almohad wall still stands. This plaque tells about the royal visit that gave the gate its new name.
It has a Latin inscription:
Ferrea Fernandus prepegit claustra Sevilla
Fernandi nomem splendit ut astra polli
This Latin phrase translates to:
Ferdinand broke the strong gates of Seville,
and the name of Ferdinand shines like the stars of heaven
See also
In Spanish: Puerta Real (Sevilla) para niños
