A travel guide to exploring Seville which is considered the passionate heart of Andalucía in southern Spain.
Located in the South of Spain, Seville is a city with a rich past that is the capital of Andalucía. The mixture of Moorish and Venetian influence in architecture makes the city appealing to many travelers. Additionally, being the birthplace of flamenco and the home to the largest cathedral in the world, Seville will win you over with its artistic soul.Sevilla was important in history as a cultural centre, as a capital of Muslim Spain, and as a centre for Spanish exploration of the New World.
Hanna Amy wows us yet again with her travel guide to exploring Seville and all the wonders it has to offer. August is the perfect time to visit Seville and she suggests a slower pace to take in the sights, the sounds, the smells, the food and of course the cultural vibrancy that Seville has to offer.From Hanna,
In August, Seville was the first stop of our Andalucía road trip before heading off to another destination. For those arriving by car, for ease, park just outside the old town in a guarded underground garage to avoid unnecessary tickets/towing as parking can be tricky in a historic region. To be honest, I was skeptical about the amount of tourists the city would have, but it wasn’t as crowded as expected. Let’s just say, the crowds were in all the right places such as the tapas bars, which is the way it’s supposed to be in authentic Andalucía.
We visited the main sites in the morning, firstly to avoid tourist crowds and secondly because it was much cooler during this time of day. Keep in mind that August is a popular and hot time to travel to Spain. The empty city has the most visual impact as the sun begins to rise and sightseeing is calm and pleasant.
Here are some must-sees when you get to Seville
- Real Alcázar (must pre order tickets online)
- Casa de Pilatos
- Plaza de Espana
We saw the cathedral from the outside but I’m sure it would have been amazing on the inside as well. However, the best way to explore Seville is to simply stroll around the city. Visit the little shops and cooling wine bars, as the day gets hotter, roam around the ceramics quarter and buy yourself some nice tiles to take home. Eat tapas all day long and hop through as many restaurants as you can because there is nothing more enjoyable than tasting what the city has to offer. Take advantage of the good wine lists as they are so affordable in Spain and let the beauty of the city take over your soul, as the days go by.
#1 Exploring Alcazar – a step back in time
You cannot visit Seville without seeing the main attraction that is the UNESCO Royal (Real) palace of Alcazar, which is the oldest royal palace in use in Europe. The royal palace of Seville was built for the Christian king Peter of Castile showcasing outstanding Hispano-Muslim architecture and is located right in the centre of the old town, tucked between large stone walls right in front of the cathedral. It was designed as a fortress to protect the Muslim authorities. This Mujedar palace has beautiful manicured gardens where peacocks roam free, was built over the site of Seville’s former Moorish fortress and is a smaller version of Granada’s Alhambra. We spent a good few hours here walking around the estate and taking in all the architectural beauty, working our appetite for lunchtime. The tapestry collection is outstanding and shows the craftsmanship and detail that goes into each piece. The colorful tiles, carved archways, stone and gold details represent the city’s rich past. Parts of the popular series Game of Thrones have been filmed here and you feel that Arabian nights kind of feeling as you enter the gates.
#2 Eat Tapas and watch a flamenco show in the Triana neighborhood
Like most historic towns, the most wonderful way to explore any city is by foot. The best way to get to know Seville is to explore the nooks and corners by walking aimlessly around the beauty of the old town. If you don’t feel like walking all the time, the corners are filled with horse carriage rides that work as taxis in the old town. The town is filled with beautiful little plazas that are filled with restaurants, tapas bars and cozy boutiques. The Jewish Quarter of Seville is one of the most beautiful neighborhoods including the Santa Cruz area. Make sure to eat oxtail, drink some tinto de verno ( cold red wine mixed with a local sprite type of fizz drink called casera) and order delicious tapas from the counter of the bar, just as the locals do. Some of our favourite tapas bars include bar Catedral during the day and Ovejas Negras in the evening. There was a great seafood restaurant, La Primera del Puente on the other side of the river, the typical “not so pretty” place with plastic chairs and paper clothes. However, often these tapas bars/ restaurants are the best in Spain, buzzing with locals. One evening before dinner, we booked a flamenco show in Teatro Flamenco Triana that was located away from the old town (on the other side of the river) that came highly recommended. The beauty of this show was that it was in a small theatre for a small audience, very authentic, full of locals. You weren’t allowed to take any pictures here but the show was sexy, full of passion and so beautiful to look at. Teatro Flamenco Triana is located on Calle Pureza 76, and you can book your tickets online or from tourist information.Equally as interesting as the royal palace, La Casa De Pilatos (Pilate’s House) is a wonderful hidden gem in the heart of Seville. I stumbled across it through Pinterest and I was drawn to its beautiful 16th century Sevillian architecture. With a touch of Renaissance flair, the palace has a Gothic Mudejar style to it that spills with breathtaking ceramic details. It is much less known than the Alcazar and for that reason, it is also far less crowded and peaceful. It costs peanuts to get in and it includes a guided audio tour of the entire palace. It is located in the historical centre, making it a short walk from all the other must sees. After visiting the civil palace, do some hand-made tile shopping just outside the casa and stroll to the ceramics quarter for paella lunch, a traditional saffron-flavored rice dish rooting from Valencia. Apparently, Paella is said to have a symbolic meaning between two cultures from Spain; the Romans, for the pan and the Arab, that imported the rice. It is said that Moorish kings’ servants used to create similar rice dishes by mixing left-overs from royal banquets that they took home to families. Nevertheless, restaurant La Cueva, located on Calle Rodrigo Caro, 18 opens up to a little square that has a tiny park in the middle surrounded primarily with ceramic shops and places to eat. You will smell the caramelized almonds cooking in little bakeries that linger through the narrow streets.
#3 Watch sunrise at plaza de Espana to capture Seville’s most impressive town square
Plaza de Espana, a semi-circular brick building is a historical landmark in Seville that is a breathtaking square right next to the old town. The plaza is framed by the Maria Luisa Park with a total of 10,000 square meters and is without a doubt, one of Spain’s most lavish plazas. It is designed to showcase Spain’s industry and technology exhibits. The square has been a backdrop for many movies (Lawrence of Arabia, Star Wars, The Dictator) and makes a great place for a peaceful stroll followed by a Café con leche. We walked along the curving facade of the building admiring the Renaissance/neo-Moorish architecture witnessing the neon ceramic detailing. Following the shape of the building, there is a 500-metre canal crossed by four bridges where you can opt for a romantic row. The square oozes with inspiration and is at its most beautiful state early morning, during sunrise before it lingers with tourists. With the exception of a few photographers and exploring individuals, the fountain was glistening against the rising sun and pigeons were taking their morning bath in the cooling water.As Christopher Columbus once said: “The air soft as that of Seville in April, and so fragrant that it was delicious to breathe it.” No doubt, Seville is a city full of charm with its colossal history, laced with the footsteps to flamenco and sprinkled with Andalucías finest tapas bars that gives the city a presence like no other.
Thank you Hanna for taking us along a virtual journey exploring Seville and all the amazing things to do and see in this beautiful city.
So is Spain on your bucket list of places to visit?
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