Alcázar
An alcázar is a type of Islamic castle or palace in the Iberian Peninsula (also known as al-Andalus) built during Muslim rule between the 8th and 15th centuries. They functioned as homes and regional capitals for governmental figures throughout the Umayyad caliphate and later, for Christian rulers following the Spanish Reconquista. The term alcázar is also used for many medieval castles built by Christians on earlier Roman, Visigothic or Islamic fortifications and is frequently used as a synonym for "castillo" or castle. Terminology. The Spanish word () derives from the Arabic word "al-qaṣr" "the fort, castle, or palace ., which in turn derives from the latin word Castrum" ("fortress", "military camp"). Similar words exist in Galician (, ), Portuguese (, ), and Catalan (, ). Spain also has Moorish citadels known as alcazabas ( "al-qasbah"). However, not all castles in Spain are called alcázar: the majority are called "castillo" in Spanish or "castell" in Catalan or "castelo" in Galician or "gaztelua" in Basque. Nor was every alcázar or alcazaba in Iberia built by the Moors: many castles with these names were built after the Moors were expelled from the Iberian Peninsula. Landmark alcázars. Outside Spain. Outside Spain, in Palermo, Sicily, the Cassaro corresponds to the  Punic settlement of Zis, on high ground that was refortified by the Arabs and known as "al-qaṣr" and was further expanded as the site of the later Norman palace. The former colonial palace in Santo Domingo, originally built for Christopher Columbus's son Diego in 1509, is commonly known as the Alcázar de Colón ("Columbus's alcázar") and is built in the Andalusian style.