There are a few alquerques in the cloister of the Seu Vella.
Alquerque was a common strategy and entertainment game in medieval times, although its origin is classical. The word alquerque comes from the Andalusian name al-qariq ("flat area"). The most popular version of this game is Alquerque III, popularly known as "Tic-tac-toe", but there is also Alquerque IX and Alquerque XII.
Alquerque is documented in Libro del ajedrez, dados y tablas that King Alfonso X the Wise ordered written in the 13th century as a compendium of the main games of the time.
All the alquerques located in the cloister of the Seu Vella are Alquerque XII, requiring twenty pieces or pebbles to play a game. The presence of these games engraved on the stones gives the Seu Vella's cloister an additional feature to be added to its spectacular size, its rich ornamentation and exterior opening. On the other hand, the alquerques turn the cloister into a space for recreation and playing, in addition to a superb welcome and reception space, excellent public square for conversation, discussion and critique, select cemetery and showcase of social prestige.