Located next to the beach in the Guadalmina urbanisation, the baths date back to the 3rd century and were first discovered to be Roman in 1915. The solid mortar structure has survived the passing of history and weather well, particularly considering the location near the beach.
This beautiful Arabian temple overlooks the golden mile just to the west of the city centre (towards San Pedro). It was the first Mosque constructed in Spain since the Christian re-conquest in the fifteenth century. It was built in 1981 by then Prince Salmán bin Abdulaziz in honour of King Fahd bin Abdulaziz al-Saúd of Saudi Arabia.
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.
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 two most important are the Museo de Bellas Artes and the Centro Andaluz de Arte Contemporaneo. One of the most prestigious of all Spain's Fine Arts Museums, the beautiful Museo de Bellas Artes is a former monastery and has a superb collection of art by Spain's most celebrated painters including Zurbarán, Murillo and Valdás Leal.
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 single file throughout the city. Although there is restricted entry to many of the convents, most are inhabited by closed religious orders.
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.
Seville has many excellent museums representing a wide range of subjects, historical periods and styles.
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.
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.
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.
Seville has some of the most beautiful city parks in Europe, the Parque de Maria Luisa and the Plaza de España, as well as numerous plazas and open spaces where you can happily people watch for hours. For a leisurely stroll, it's hard to beat the Paseo de Colon on the banks of the Guadalquivir river which stretches from the bridge leading to the characterful area of Triana to the magnificent Toro de Oro.
Cadiz´s name and reputation have forever been linked with its maritime adventures. It was from this ancient port city, dramatically situated on a spit of land surrounded on three sides by the sea, that two of Columbus´ four voyages set out for the New World. During the Franco era it was known as a hotbed of dissent, with its legendary carnival continuing despite the dictator´s ban on such decadent events.
The city of Antequera contains a wealth of fascinating monuments. Visit the recently excavated Roman baths, the magnificent Renaissance church of Santa María la Mayor Church, the Church of Nuestra Señora del Carmen, the 19th century bullring, and the Arch of the Giants, built in 1585, which leads up to the 13th century Moorish castle.
Antequera has numerous bars here are some of the most interesting.
Antequera is famous for a dish called "Porra Antequerana", which is a very thick style gazpacho. Also from Antequera are the wonderful, soft, "rustic-style" buns called "molletes". These are sold throughout Andalucia as they are so popular.
These are the main annual festivals celebrated in Antequera: Semana Santa, Señor de la Salud y de las Aguas, Spring Fair, Royal Fair of August and Nuestra Señora de los Remedios.
Antequera is filled with small shops usually run as family businesses. However, there are also modern shopping centres, including a fully equipped "Hipermarket" on the outskirts of the city. It is, therefore, easy to meet all basic shopping requirements. In addition, it's quite easy to find markets offering produce from the countryside, including, fruits, vegetables, and olive oil, honey and fresh eggs.
Among the most popular sporting activities in the Antequera region are horse riding, trekking and golf. Also, inside the city there are numerous opportunies to join organized sport activities and teams. For more information about these activities, check with the gym ("gimnasio" or "polideportivo") nearest you.
