history of seville
Seville has a long, rich and fascinating history. The Romans governed the whole of Spain for more than six centuries; their first colony, Italica, is close to the city, and can still be visited today.
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The Romans changed the face of the countryside and towns, building aqueducts and long straight roads to link the major towns. Today some of the best preserved artifacts from this period can be found at Seville's magnificent Archaeological Museum.
But it was the Moslem civilization that had the most lasting impact on the city. Their reign in Seville lasted for more than 500 years (711 -1248), until King Fernando III reconquered the city - you can see his statue in Plaza Nueva.
Some of the city's most magnificent buildings stand as a legacy to this era, including the Torre del Oro, Torre de Plata, Giralda, Patio de los Naranjos, the area of Triana, the Macarena Walls and the oldest part of the Alcazar. Later mudejar craftsmen, muslims working for Christian kings, used their skills to create beautiful Moorish-style buildings, such as the Palacio Pedro I, part of Seville's Reales Alcazares. Several Mudejar churches date from this period, including the Iglesia de San Marcos, the Iglesia de Santa Catalina and the Iglesia de San Pedro.
A superb example of non-religious mudejar architecture is the Casa de Pilatos, one of the most beautiful buildings you can visit in Seville. The remaining sections of city walls and gates offer an insight into the history and development of the city over the ages.
After the fall of Granada to the Christians in 1492, the city entered an era of expansion and prosperity, as the most important port in Spain. The conquest of the New World made Seville one of the most affluent cities in Europe: the 16th century is known as Seville's Golden Age, when the cathedral was built, and painters such as Murillo, Zurbaran and Velzquez were producing their finest works. However in the 17th century, much of the monarchy's wealth was squandered on military campaigns by the Hapsburg kings.
By the 18th century, Spain had fallen into economic decline. The War of Spanish Succession (1701-1713) saw Bourbons replace Hapsburgs on the Spanish throne. Under the Treaty of Utrecht, Gibraltar was handed over to the British.
The following century saw ties with France drag Spain into the Napoleonic Wars. Following the Battle of Trafalgar, the Spanish King, Carlos IV, abdicated and Napoleon Bonaparte placed his brother, Joseph on the Spanish throne. The Peninsula War ensued (1803-1813) and, with British help, the French were driven out of Spain. After the Bourbon restoration, Spain, weakened by further strife, began to lose her colonies.
Additionally, throughout the 19th century, and then the early 20th century, poverty led to political conflict and ultimately to Civil War (1936-1939).
Many of the more recent historic buildings date from the 1929 Ibero-American Exposition (or Expo), including the vast Plaza de España lined with tiled panels depicting the Spanish provinces, as well as a canal and bridges, and the park within which the plaza is located Parque Maria Luisa.
In 1992 a second Expo took place in Seville, commemorating the 500th anniversary of Columbus' historic voyage. Using the latest technology, this exhibition took place on previously vacant land north of Triana, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors from around the world.
Torre de Perdigones is a 45-metre-tall square brick tower near the Puente de la Barqueta with a dual purpose for visitors: as part of the Macarena district’s industrial heritage, and also sd a… More →
Seville has its fair share of magnificent family-owned palaces – In summer 2023, another such monument opened to the public for the first time: Palacio Bucarelli.
When visitors see the magnificent baroque entrance to this vast stone building, most assume they're looking at yet another of Seville's palaces or grand residences. In fact, its origins are more… More →
Seville has hosted two Exposiciones Universales (known as Expos for short), where countries from around the world built pavilions to show the best of their industry, tecnnology and culture: the… More →
The Archivo General de Indias is situated next to the Cathedral, on Avenida de la Constitucion. This 16th-century building houses 80 million pages of documents and maps about the Indies (9km of… More →
Icon of Seville, the magnificent Giralda was the tallest building in the city for over 800 years, dominating the skyline at 103m. Originally built in 1195 as the minaret of the Aljama mosque, it… More →
The Torre del Oro (Golden Tower), which dominates the banks of the river Guadalquivir next to the Puente San Telmo, is a remnant of the Moorish fortified walls which originally enclosed the city,… More →
Seville is a city rich with convents and monasteries. Groups of nuns scuttle down the streets going around their daily business and school girls, dressed in smart plaid skirts and shirts walk in… More →
La Casa de Pilatos (Pilate's House) is the finest example of a civil (as opposed to royal) palace in Seville. The building is a mixture of Italian Renaissance and Spanish Mudéjar adorned with… More →
Roman ruins of Italica, near Seville, with remarkable mosaics and an impressive amphitheatre, are located 9 kilometres to the north of the city, just outside the village of Santiponce. Nearby you… More →
This large, walled complex of honey-coloured stone buildings, situated on the Isla la Cartuja (named after the monastery itself; the word means “charterhouse”), has seen many ups and downs during… More →
As you arrive in the city, look out for remnants of ancient stone walls marooned in the centre of busy roads, plus an impressive, well-preserved 400-metre section in Macarena, near the Andalucian… More →
These walls date from 1135, the time of the Almoravides, and were strengthened by the Almohades in the 12th and 13th centuries.
Seville held two Exposiciones Universales (known as Expos for short) in the 20th century: one in 1929 - Expo 29; and one in 1992, the same year as the Barcelona Olympics - Expo 92 (note the… More →
The Hospital de la Santa Caridad (Holy Charity Hospital) is a 15th century baroque charity hospital, home to the Hermandad de la Santa Caridad (Brotherhood of Holy Charity). Located at the… More →
