The Feria started in 1846 as a livestock fair in the Prado de Sebastian, where horses were traded. Its aim was also to provide an uplifting distraction from the aftermath of the Napoleonic invasion and the hurricane of 1842, a category 2 storm which had destroyed homes in Seville.
The Wednesday of the Feria is a public holiday in Seville, so that day tends to be more crowded as locals can come during the day (as opposed to after work), and on Friday and Saturday many visitors come to Seville from other cities to experience the Feria.
This collection of Sevillano costumbrista paintings, sculpture, furniture and porcelain is on show in a mansion in Barrio Santa Cruz. Donated to the city by the art collector Mariano Bellver, this collection of 567 works encompasses painting, sculpture, porcelain and religious pieces.
The grounds of the Alcázar are extensive and fascinating, so be sure to leave yourself plenty of time to wander around the whole palace and gardens - two to three hours minimum. These were the orchards of the palace in Moorish times, providing food for the royal court, as well as aesthetic value.
This was the main central courtyard of the Renaissance-era Alcazar, where Spanish nobles met to go hunting with the king. This was built over the residence of Moorish rulers. Ahead is Peter’s Palace, and to the right is the Renaissance period part of the Alcazar, altered from the original Gothic.
This section of the palace complex is reached through the Crossing Courtyard (see Moorish Alcazar), which is connected to the Patio de la Monteria (Hunting Courtyard) by a porticoed gallery, or from the Patio de las Doncellas.
This part of the Alcazar is the most famous, and is often shown in photos of the palace due to its astonishing visual impact, especially the Ambassador’s Hall with its mirrored gold domed ceiling, and the Patio of the Maidens with its beautiful stucco arches and sunken gardens.
In the 10th century, the seat of power in Andalucia for the ruling Ummayad caliphate was Cordoba. From the 11th century the region devolved into taifa states, of which Seville was one, ruled at first by Abderraman III. In 1147 the Almohad dynasty arrived, aiming to return the region to stricter adherence to Islam, and declared Seville as its capital.
You enter the Alcázar though the red Puerta del Leon (Lion’s Gate) situated at the corner of Calle Miguel de Mañara and Calle Santo Tomas. The exit is on Patio de Banderas, which leads back onto Plaza del Triunfo, and also into Barrio Santa Cruz via Calle Juderia.
Day visits
October to March: 9.30am - 6pm
April to September: 9.30am - 8pm
Night visits (see below)
March and October: every half hour from 7.30pm to 9pm
April to September: every half hour from 9pm to 10.30pm
If you follow the street eastwards away from the Setas, passing Plaza Cristo de Burgos, the next area you arrive in is Santa Catalina barrio (neighbourhood).
This barrio (neighbourhood) is next to the main shopping area, and is centred around Metropol Parasol, the vast wooden waffle structure consisting of six giant shades in Plaza Encarnacion.
Alfalfa barrio (neighbourhood) is located between Plaza Encarnación and Plaza Cristo de Burgos to the north, and Santa Cruz. It is an area of narrow streets with small, independent shops and bars, where you’ll find lively tapas places, idiosyncratic late-night joints, and stores selling artisan crafts and unusual jewellery.
One of the finest examples of Baroque architecture in Seville, San Luis de los Franceses (known simply as San Luis) is an extravagantly decorated circular church in the Macarena district.
In the tables below listed at the destinations currently or recently served by direct flights to and from Seville Airport. The first table is destinations in the UK, the second table is destinations in EU, the third table is destinations in Spain and the fourth table is destinations world-wide including Morocco.
The Feria has over 1,000 casetas (literally small houses), green or red-and-white striped tents of varying sizes arranged along 15 streets. Each caseta has its own name on the front, and belongs to a local family, group of friends, business, club, trade association or political party.
The only opera by Ludwig Van Beethoven, this was originally titled Leonore, or The Triumph of Marital Love. It was premiered at the Theater an der Wien in 1805, and was not well received. The opera was subsequently modified and shortened; the earlier two versions are known as Leonore. The final version was first performed at the Kärntnertortheater in Vienna in 1814.
This opera is based on the legend of Don Juan, a fictional libertine and seducer. It was premiered by the Prague Italian Opera at the National Theatre (of Bohemia), now called the Estates Theatre, in 1787. Although sometimes classified as comic, the work blends comedy, melodrama and supernatural elements. It is one of several Mozart operas set in Seville, the others being The Barber of Seville.
Abantal Michelin one-star restaurant is located just outside the historic centre of Seville and offers delightful, innovative gastronomic dishes created by chef Julio Fernández Quintero. The restaurant itself seats 28 diners at a time, but can accomodate up to 55 for group bookings and special events planned in advance.
