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Sevilla or Seville is the capital of Andalucia and architecturally it's often referred to as the jewel in the Andalucian crown. With its magnificent Baroque cathedral, a Moorish Royal Palace, (Reales Alcazares) and the remains of the Roman city Italica to name but a few, the town has so many highlights that it's worthwhile spending some time here to discover its delights at leisure.
Andalucia is justifiably famous for its excellent gastronomic scene. Using first-class ingredients grown throughout the region and caught along its extensive coastline, such as jamon iberico, tomatoes and prawns, cutting-edge dishes are prepared and presented with typically Spanish flair and innovation. Seville is home of the tapas, where this world-renowned sociable small dish for sharing was invented.
For many visitors to Seville, flamenco is one of its greatest treasures. People flock to the many tablaos (flamenco bars) and flamenco shows to see a little of this Andalucían culture while visiting the city. Without a doubt, flamenco is one of the wonders of Southern Spain and after you have been to one of the many flamenco shows that are on offer in the city, you may just want to further your education on the subject.
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.
Seville is a marvel. It’s a city of various diverse (and wildly beautiful) neighbourhoods: the narrow alleyways of the Barrio de Santa Cruz are lined with glorious old palaces and stunning plazas… the Alfalfa, Triana, the Macarena and Santa Catalina, meanwhile, all teem with life.
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 is now the belltower of the cathedral, and is recognised as World Heritage by UNESCO.
Seville is often referred to as the 'Jewel of Andalucia' and it's easy to see why; be it for business or for pleasure the city has such a lot to offer with its rich and colourful mix of history and culture.
This is the first barrio (area or neighbourhood) tourists head for, and with good reason. The Barrio Santa Cruz is the most picturesque and delightful part of the city, with narrow winding cobbled streets and whitewashed houses, where you can sit outside a bar, enjoy some tapas and watch the world go by, or wander through centuries-old gardens and relax on beautiful tiled benches.
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, with 166 towers and 15 gates. A watchtower designed to protect the docks, its iconic shape makes it one of Seville's best-known monuments, after the Giralda which was built just a few years earlier.
The Duquesa de Alba was one of Spain's most famous aristocrats, and one of Seville best-loved personalities, until her death in 2014. With palaces and castles all over Spain, Cayetana was happiest in her home in the historic city centre, Casa de las Dueñas.
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.
The Parque Maria Luisa is a large green space to the south of the city centre, close to the river, with hundreds of exotic trees lining shady avenues, and historic, fairytale buildings, with exotic touches provided by colourful tiled benches, and Moorish fountains and pools.
Gibraltar is so small (about 6 square kilometres) that getting around town - and around The Rock, in general - is a feasible option, if you have the time and energy. E biking is a fun, new sustainable option.
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.
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
While the experts might find the challenge a little limited, the average club golfer will certainly find it quite enough to handle as the greens are sharply contoured and quick. Pleasant, flat parkland course with many bunkers, wide fairways and elevated greens.
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.
The Alcázar of Seville was used as a location for the hugely successful HBO TV series, Game of Thrones. The palace stood in for the Water Gardens of Dorne in various scenes in four episodes of Season Five and one of Season Six. The private estate is owned by Prince Dorian Martell, the wheelchair-bound head of House Martell and ruler of Dorne.
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.
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.
