Situated in the basement of Metropol Parasol in Plaza Encarnacion, this is a modern, well-presented archaeological museum following a similar format to the Castillo San Jorge (Inquisition Museum), with sections of ruins visible through glass partitions, and underfoot along walkways.
This massive building is Seville's most impressive after the cathedral, for its sheer scale and grandeur. Love it or hate it - fabulous or fussy, magnificent or overblown, depending on your point of view - you shouldn't miss it when visiting the city.
If you are considering visiting Seville you may find our maps a useful tool, we provide three maps, one of the region of Andalucia with Seville highlighted. The second handcrafted map gives the location of Seville with the corresponding local road network
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 precious tiles, and has well-kept gardens.
Famous for having its own strong identity - it's known in Seville as "the independent republic of Triana" - this district is celebrated for its azulejos (ceramic tiles), made in workshops here originally using mud from the river bank; its sailors, bullfighters and flamenco artists.
Next to the Alameda, this is an authentic Seville barrio; although many houses have been restored and smartened up in recent years to attract young professional types, thankfully it hasn't gone too chi-chi. You'll find trendy clothes shops, of the street-style skateboarder variety, as well as artists' communities. The food market on Calle Feria is one of the city's best and the "El Jueves" Thursday flea market is fun for bargain-hunting. The area is home to one of Seville's two favourite Virgins, the Virgen de Esperanza, a focus of intense adoration during Semana Santa.
Seville's parish churches display a fascinating variety of architectural styles. Several are converted mosques with belfries built over their minarets, others range through Mudejar and Gothic (sometimes in combination), Renaissance and Baroque.
This castle once housed the headquarters of the Catholic Church's "Tribunal of the Holy Office of the Inquisition". The impressive remains, located underneath Triana market, are now used as a stunning exhibition space.
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 its long, dramatic history. From monks who welcomed Christopher Columbus, to barracks for Napoleon’s troops, ceramic factory run by an Englishman producing world-renowned porcelain, to modern-day contemporary art gallery and open-air live music venue.
One of the best museums of its kind in Spain, located in the Maria Luisa Park and originally built as part of the 1929 exhibition. The focus is on the Romans, but there is also a prehistoric section which includes the Stone Age, Bronze Age and Iron Age. Later, the Phoenicians, the Greeks and the Carthaginians all traded and settled in what is now the province of Seville.
SEVici, Seville´s public bike rental service which started in 2007, has 2500 bicycles available from 250 stations around the city, approximately 300 metres apart. There are 120 km of cycle lanes in the city, making it one of the best-served cities in Spain for this extremely clean, green and healthy means of transport.
Taxis are white, with a yellow stripe; look for the green light on the roof to indicate it's free. Extra charges for luggage, weekends, holidays and night time - see below for details. A taxi from the airport will cost around 20 euros.
Don't drive in the old centre, the casco historico, unless it's unavoidable. If your hotel has a garage, that's ideal, but you're best off driving straight there when you arrive, and straight out again when you leave.
These aren't so much ways to get around, as ways to see the city, whether by horse-drawn carriage, open-top bus tour, or a boat trip on the river. A new, eco-friendly way to see the city is a Segway, a two-wheeled upright electric vehicle, with zero emissions. Especially useful in the centre, on traffic-free roads.
Seville has an extensive bus network, covering all barrios around the city. Most buses leave either from Puerta de Jerez (south of the centre) or from Plaza Ponce de Leon (east). The circular buses, C3 and C4, follow the ring road around the old city centre. One small bus takes a circular route inside the centre, the C5.
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 parliament building. These are the remains of the city walls, or murallas, dating from the 12th century - Seville was once the most strongly fortified city in Europe.
Las Setas (the Mushrooms), named due to its short pillars and broad shades, is the most ambitious, expensive and controversial urban project in Seville since Expo 92. Opened in 2011, and designed by German architect Jurgen Meyer H, it is now one of Seville's architectural icons, along with the Giralda, Torre del Oro, Plaza de España, and the Alamillo bridge.
This finally opened in spring 2008, and is used by an estimated 20 million passengers a year. It is small-scale, using just three passenger coaches, with 22 stations. But it's clean, efficient and regular and has proved a success. It is especially useful, and busy, during Semana Santa and Feria when parking near these events is both scarce and pricey.
