Seville

Seville : Travel information before you go!

Discover the destination

45 mi from the sea, Seville is still beaming with the splendours of the Muslim era: palaces, gardens and old mosques which have now become churches or the cathedral, blend together with the riches brought back from America; surrounded by flamenco, corridas, ferias and tapas. The pedestrian centre, lined with orange trees (there is a total of 80,000!) and Neo-Mudejar style façades is totally enchanting. The capital city of Andalusia and all its gems are just a few hours' flight away. Some of Seville's must-sees include the following: the cathedral (dazzling with its treasures), Christopher Columbus's mausoleum, two mahogany organs, the sumptuous 15th century altarpiece and its magnificent stained-glass windows. The Giralda, an old minaret from the great mosque converted to a church spire, overlooks the cathedral from a height of 522 ft. From the top, you will have a stunning view of the city. One of Unesco's World Heritage Sites, the Alcazar palace and its gardens are a foretaste of Granada's Alhambra. Seville also holds less famous but just as fascinating sites such as the Flamenco Museum, set up in a superb house that revolves around an Andalusian patio. Contemporary art lovers can visit the Andalusian contemporary art centre on the site of the 1992 Universal Exposition, and more precisely in the former monastery of Carthusian nuns, dating from the 15th century, later converted into a ceramic factory - it is a truly original place. Lose yourself in the maze of narrow, picturesque lanes in the districts of Juderia, Santa Cruz and El Arenal, with little squares and flowery patios here and there, and do not hesitate to go across the Guadalquivir and explore the popular district of Triana, an old Gypsies' and sailors' haunt.
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pros

•  The cultural riches
•  The sunny weather
•  The proximity
•  A reasonably sized city
•  The many pedestrian streets and squares
•  The mny tapas bars

cons

•  The stifling heat in the summer
•  The many cranes which ruin the landscape a bit
•  The expensive entrance fee to the Alcazar and the Giralda

Visit Seville

• To see

  The cathedral, dazzling with its treasures, Christopher Columbus's mausoleum, its two mahogany organs, the sumptuous 15th century altarpiece and magnificent stained glass windows. The Giralda, an old minaret from the great mosque converted to a church spire, overlooks the cathedral from a height of 522 ft. From the top, you will have a stunning view of the city. One of Unesco's World Heritage Sites, the Alcazar palace and its gardens are a foretaste of Granada's Alhambra. Seville also holds less famous but just as fascinating sites such as the Flamenco Museum, set up in a superb house that revolves around an Andalusian patio. Do not miss out on visiting the Andalusian contemporary art centre on the site of the 1992 Universal Exhibition, and,more precisely, the former monastery of the Carthusian nuns, dating back to the 15th century and later converted to a ceramic factory: it is a truly original place. Built for the 1929 Ibero-American Exhibition, Plaza de España is a vast, 650 ft wide semi-circle, lined with an impressive brick and ceramic palace, one of the gems of this city. Its blue-glazed terracotta, called azulejos, tell the story of the provinces of Spain, in alphabetical order. The popular district of Triana, on the south bank of the Guadalquivir, was once a haunt for sailors and gypsies, and it now gives you the possibility of enjoying nice walks along the river, from which you can admire the beautiful views of the Gold Tower, the Maestranza de la plaza de toros (bullring) and the Giralda. One of the best viewpoints of all these monuments is the Abades Triana restaurant's panoramic terrace, above the Guadalquivir, on calle Betis 69 street.

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  To do

  Listen to flamenco music in the penas, the connoisseurs' meeting places, where top artists are regularly invited - the quality of these shows is generally much better than that of shows performed for tourists in the tablaos. The one with the best reputation is tableo El Arenal. La Carboneria, in the Santa Cruz district, is a place you have to see: the atmosphere is very festive. You can listen to jazz or improvisations in the first, more intimate room. The second room is exclusively dedicated to flamenco: singers, dancers and musicians perform one after the other from 10:45 pm onwards, going on late into the night. You can even enjoy the mild evenings on the large outside patio. Party animals in search of greater authenticity can lose themselves in the barrio de Santa Cruz, where they will end up at the Mariscal Bar-Copas for a drink in an all-Sevillan ambience, along with the locals. Open the back door to the rear room and you will find the regulars singing their very own version of flamenco!
  Every two years, the Seville Flamenco Biennial is a world-reputed event which takes place during the month of September.
  
  Seville is one of the rare cities to have an amusement park in its midst: Isla Magica (Magic Island), is based on the theme of the discovery of the New World, on isla de La Cartuja, also the site for the 1992 Universal Exhibition.Seville's bull-fighting is world famous, performed in the Maestranza de la plaza de toros, one of Spain's oldest (18th century) and most prestigious bullrings. The prices vary according to the sun exposure: 'sombra' (shade) or 'sol' (sun). The bullfighting season begins with the April Feria and ends towards the end of September. Shows generally take place on Sundays or on bank holidays towards the end of the afternoon.
  
  Don't hesitate to go up to the terrace of the Eme hotel, opposite the cathedral, so you can enjoy a cocktail while admiring the unrestricted view of the Giralda; or else, have a drink at the patio terrace of the Alfonso XIII, the city's grand hotel, a real architectural gem in the Neo-Mudejar-style dating from the 1929 Exhibition.
  From the terrace of the restaurant Abades Triana, on the banks of the Guadalquivir River, try the 'Pata Negra' Iberico ham with a beer and enjoy the view of the Gold Tower, the Giralda and the Maestranza de la plaza de toros bullring. Across the river, many Sevillans lounge or have a picnic in the shade of the trees.
  It is possible to go on a cruise on the river aboard a large boat or even kayaking, which is a more sportive way to explore the river.
  
  The sea is only an hour's drive away, giving you the opportunity to extend your cultural weekend with a stay on Costa de la Luz and its long unspoilt beaches, an alternative to built-up Costa del Sol.

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  To think about

  The best thing to do in Seville is to get lost on foot. Therefore, remember to pack a pair of comfortable shoes with you. If you are driving, park the car by the Ronda (ring road) and carry on on foot. Do not hesitate to use taxis though as they are very cheap! You can get free city maps and other information at the tourist information point on plaza Nueva square, near the townhall. If you have a health problem, do not hesitate to go to the health centre (junta de Andalucia) located on calle Clara de Jesus Montero street near the shopping centre on plaza de Armas square. Care and treatment is given for free, such as changing a bandage, for example.

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• To avoid

  In the summer, tourist sites are overcrowded and the temperature reaches the 40°C mark. During Holy Week, it is almost impossible to walk around in the centre of Seville - the streets are that crowded that you sometimes need a few hours to walk just a few feet...

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  To try

  Tapas of course! In Seville as everywhere else in Spain, tapas represents the great local gastronomy. It is said to have been invented in Seville! At the bar, on the terrace of a cafe, at the table of a restaurant, you will taste small portions of the most diverse dishes (cold cuts, cheese, prawns, olives, etc), served with a glass of Malaga, Rioja, sangria or chilled cerveza (beer). The Ferias' special drink is Manzanilla, it is nice, sweet and very strong! The region of Seville is the place where the world's best ham is made: 'Pata Negra' Iberico Ham, and in particular, Jabugo's. For a total guarantee of quality, request a 'cinco jotas' of the brand Sanchez Romero Carvajal. The price is high because this definitely is luxury produce! In Seville, fish is cut up into little bits and dipped in spicy batter for frying. Gazpacho is also among the Andalusian specialities: this nice soup, served cold, includes oil, garlic and tomato and it is garnished with cucumber, onion, tomato, peppers and bread. It is also served in glasses with ice-cubes. Seville excels in the preparation of Flemish eggs: they are baked over a layer of tomato, chorizo, ham, string beans, asparagus, etc. Sevillan-style veal is stuffed with olives and basted with wine. During you trip, don't forget to taste all the available fresh fruit: pomegranate, persimmon fruit, figs, strawberries and oranges. Breakfast cannot be savoured without delicious freshly-squeezed orange juice: truly delightful! If you are looking for a good place to eat gorgeous tapas, we recommend bodeguita A. Romero, calle Antonia Diaz (street), next to the Maestranza de la plaza de toros bullring. A typical and convivial atmosphere, and tapas to die for!

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  To bring back

  The region of Seville is the place where the world's best ham is made: 'Pata Negra' Iberico Ham, and in particular, Jabugo's. For a total guarantee of quality, request a 'cinco jotas' of the brand Sanchez Romero Carvajal. The price is high because this definitely is luxury produce! Seville is reputed for its azulejos, ceramic squares usually found in the district of Triana, an old haunt for Gypsies and sailors, on the other bank of the Guadalquivir. Small markets can be found on Duque or Magdalena squares. They have a large choice of leather goods, castanets, flamenco dresses and fans. The latter is the perfect flamenco dancer's accessory and it can particularly be found around La Campana and the pedestrian streets of Tetuán and Sierpes. You can buy many souvenirs, both gastronomic and handicraft-related, from the department stores called El Corte Ingles.

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