Explore The World

Birthplace of flamenco and tapas; Seville offers the visitor everything - history, culture, good food and wine plus an innate sense of fiesta.

A City to Walk In

Getting around the city is easy. It is divided into sections or barrios - the old town lies on the east bank of the Guadalquivir in Barrio de Santa Cruz which was Seville’s old Jewish quarter with its warren of alleyways and patios and most of the city’s monuments are grouped in this area.

Largest Cathedral in Europe

The cathedral with its great Moorish tower, La Giralda, is its best known landmark and the steep climb to the top is well worth the effort as it gives you a magnificent view of the city rooftops. It occupies the site of a great mosque built in the late 12th century. The bell tower and Patio de los Naranjos are a legacy of this era. Work on the Christian building – the largest in Europe, began in 1401 and took over one hundred years to complete. It houses the tomb of Christopher Columbus who sailed west to discover the new world.

A Palace Fit for a King

Not far from the cathedral is the Real Alcazar or Royal Palaces. In 1364 Pedro I ordered the construction of a royal residence within the palaces built by the city’s Almohad rulers. He ordered craftsmen from Granada and Toledo to create a jewel box with Medujar patios and halls. Later monarchs have added their own mark and from here Isabel I despatched explorers to find new lands to add to the Spanish Empire.

The Salon de Embajadores was built in 1427 and the dome of the Ambassadors’ Hall is made up of gilded carved and interlaced wood. The horseshoe arches and tiles gives this room the luxurious finish that would have impressed visiting potentates. Each area gives a taste of life influenced by the Moors who had conquered this area seven hundred years before. This beautiful building rivals the palace at Granada for intricate design and plasterwork.

The landscaped grounds are laid out with fountains, pavilions and terraces and give respite to the visitor from the heat and bustle of the city.

A Piazza for the World

The Plaza Espana was built as the centrepiece of the 1929 Exposition. This semi circular plaza with its splendid fountain and moat housed the Spanish Pavilion. The azulejo panels below the colonnade depict aspects of the cities and regions of Spain and the central towers were inspired by the cathedral at Santiago de Compostela. This is where the people come to walk and talk in the cool of the evening.

The Cigarette Factory

Just round the corner is the Real Fabrica de Tabacos (tobacco factory) completed in 1757 and it still bears the signs of the days when thousands of young cigarerras rolled cigars here. This factory gave inspiration to Prosper Merimee whose story about one such girl inspired Bizet to write the opera Carmen. Today is houses the science faculty of Seville’s university.

The Golden Tower

Seville lies on the banks of the Rio Guadalquivir which brought the riches to the city. The Torre de Oro was constructed by the Almohads to anchor an enormous chain that stretched across the river as part of the fortifications. Now it houses a small maritime museum and from here tours by city buses and cruises leave to let you explore this beautiful city.

Bringing the World to Seville

In 1992 Seville staged the international Expo ’92 – the legacy of this exposition can be seen in its transport infrastructure and several new bridges.

Home of Tapas

Seville claims have invented tapas and can even tell you the bar that it all started – the El Rinoeneillo, near Santa Catalina, here the staff covered the glass of fino with a tapa (lid) of ham. Today tapas are found everywhere and can be anything from thin slices of mountain ham to spiced olives, or bacalao(dried cod to a small dish of paella.

The Dance of the Andalusian Gypsies

Flamenco with its mysterious origins from ancient India, Arab and Jewish roots was created by the Andalusian gypsies. Today flamenco is crossing over into jazz and rock and it is still evolving from the sorrowful and discordant songs and dances of its past.

This is a city that has so much to offer and you will want to go back time and time again. 

By Jay Cassie.