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Seville City - Fascinating Fact 5

Callejon de la Inquisition © Michelle Chaplow
Callejon de la Inquisition

Seville City - Fascinating Fact 5

By Fiona Flores Watson

5) NOBODY EXPECTS THE SPANISH INQUISITION IN SEVILLE

This dark period in Catholicism´s history is still endlessly, if morbidly, fascinating, and it is rumoured that a museum on the Spanish church´s merciless 300-year purge of ´heretics´ is being planned in Seville. The Spanish Inquisition was founded in Sevilla in 1481, and was based at Castillo de San Jorge, just over the Triana bridge by the market - look out for Callejon de la Inquisition when you´re visiting. Trials were held in Plaza San Francisco behind the modern ayuntamiento building (town hall) - the first ever auto da fe (act of faith) took place in Seville. Then, the poor souls were taken to the Prado de San Sebastian and burned alive on a quemadero (burning platform, ironically designed by a Jewish architect, later a victim himself), or shown the small mercy of being garrotted first if they repented. Above all, the Jewish population, which lived in Barrio Santa Cruz, was targeted, and their synagogues destroyed.

Seville City - More Fascinating Facts

  • Fact 1 - Sevillano pride and predudice.
  • Fact 2 - Sevilla on the sliver screen.
  • Fact 3 - Anyone for tapas?
  • Fact 4 - Three Roman emperors were born just outside Seville.
  • Fact 5 - Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition in Seville.
  • Fact 6 - Seville's sign of the times.
  • Fact 7 - The Cathedral-Colombus controversy.
  • Fact 8 - The six bridges of Seville's Expo.
  • Fact 9 - Oranges and Lemons.
  • Fact 10 - Two faces of Seville.
  • Seville City - Fascinating Facts - Home

Sevillanos are very well-known, throughout Spain and the wider world, for their fierce pride in their city © Michelle Chaplow Sevillanos are very well-known, throughout Spain and the wider world, for their fierce pride in their beautiful city
Seville City - Fascinating Fact 1

Sevillanos are very well-known, throughout Spain and the wider world, for their fierce pride in their city.

Some of the film locations in Seville include the Plaza de España, Casa de Pilatos and the Alcazar © Michelle Chaplow Some of the film locations in Seville include the Plaza de España, Casa de Pilatos and the Alcazar
Seville City - Fascinating Fact 2

Sevilla is beloved of movie and TV directors for its range of well-preserved buildings from every era and style, from medieval to regionalist.

© Michelle ChaplowThe Italic settlement was founded by the Roman general Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus The Italic settlement was founded by the Roman general Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus
Seville City - Fascinating Fact 4

No fewer than three Roman emperors were born just outside Seville. The Romans first arrived in Spain in 206BC, during a war against the Carthaginians, and stayed for 700 years battling the fierce… More →

Tapas these small, tasty dishes, now found all over the world, originated in Sevilla. © Michelle Chaplow Tapas these small, tasty dishes, now found all over the world, originated in Sevilla.
Seville City - Fascinating Fact 3

When you visit Seville, you will undoubtedly go out for tapas. These small, tasty dishes, now found all over the world, originated in Sevilla.

The logo of Seville © Michelle Chaplow The backstory on the logo of Seville
Seville City - Fascinating Fact 6

Visitors to Seville will notice a symbol on many signs around the city, from taxis and buses to sewer covers, consisting of the letters ´NO8DO´. This is the city´s logo, and legend says that it… More →

Callejon de la Inquisition © Michelle Chaplow Callejon de la Inquisition
Seville City - Fascinating Fact 5

This dark period in Catholicism´s history is still endlessly, if morbidly, fascinating, and it is rumoured that a museum on the Spanish church´s merciless 300-year purge of ´heretics´ is being… More →

The remains of Columbus in the cathedral of Seville. © Michelle Chaplow The remains of Columbus in the cathedral of Seville.
Seville City - Fascinating Fact 7

One of the most controversial of Seville´s many claims is that Cristobal Colón (Christopher Columbus) is buried here, in Sevilla´s mighty Gothic cathedral, variously described as either the third… More →

The Alamillo bridge was designed by world-famous architect Santiago Calatrava, the spectacular 250-metre high Alamillo has a single arm to bear its entire weight. © Michelle Chaplow The Alamillo bridge was designed by world-famous architect Santiago Calatrava, the spectacular 250-metre high Alamillo has a single arm to bear its entire weight.
Seville City - Fascinating Fact 8

The 1992 Expo put Seville on the map. Andalucia had become poor and backward during the Franco era, and an injection of cash for new roads, a high-speed rail (AVE) linking Seville to Madrid and a… More →

The finest and most highly prized marmalade is made from the Seville orange. © Michelle Chaplow The finest and most highly prized marmalade is made from the Seville orange.
Seville City - Fascinating Fact 9

There´s a saying that Sevillanos are so astonished the British actually want to use their bitter oranges to make marmalade, that they reckon the pith is secretly used to make gunpowder.

Semana Santa in Seville © Michelle Chaplow Semana Santa in Seville - Virgen de la Estrella de Triana.
Seville City - Fascinating Fact 10

Seville is a city of dualities. If you´re a football fan, as many Sevillanos are, you´re either a betico or a sevillista, supporting Real Betis Balompie (green and white strip) or Sevilla Futbol… More →

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Looking up at the brilliant blue sky of Seville from Plaza San Francisco, framed by towering palms and the intricate details of ornate Spanish architecture. A moment of serenity in the heart of the city. © Michelle Chaplow
Looking up at the brilliant blue sky of Seville from Plaza San Francisco, framed by towering palms and the intricate details of ornate Spanish architecture. A moment of serenity in the heart of the city.
Fascinating Facts