The historic quarter of Seville is one of the largest in Europe, with an area of about 335 hectares, 3 km long and 2 km wide. And the local Art Museum is the most visited in Andalusia, as well as the second most important art gallery in Spain. However, all tourists begin their alleyways in Seville from the square near the Cathedral. This is the third largest church in the entire Catholic world. It contains the remains of Christopher Columbus, who set off on his first expedition from the city harbor. See JIBIN123 for Spain customs regulations and visa requirements.
The symbol of Seville is the famous Giralda, the bell tower of the cathedral, which was originally the minaret of a grandiose mosque built in the 12th century. The mosque itself disappeared without a trace, but the minaret was excellently preserved, eventually transformed into a bell tower, and now it also serves as an observation deck for those who are not too lazy to climb to a height of 98 m. True, the climb is so convenient that even excursion groups of German pensioners.
The palace-fortress of Alcazar is the next “must-see” point, a small “state within a state”, standing in the middle of the city. With Moorish-style palaces, galleries, marble-paved courtyards, fountains, waterfalls, sculptures, gardens.
With the exception of Madrid, nowhere in Spain are there as many bullfights as in Seville. The largest and most famous arena rises above the Plaza de Toros de la Maestranza.
Also worth seeing is the former Jewish quarter of Santa Cruz, the “Golden Tower” of Torre del Oro – the ancient bastion of the Arab city wall and the monastery of Santa Maria de las Cuevas, where Columbus was originally buried. Of interest is the Bull Square (La Real Maestranza), which houses a museum dedicated to horses and bulls. Plaza de España is the main monument of the Iberoamerican Exhibition of 1929. And, of course, the exhibition area itself, which still has many pavilions from various countries, is a great place for walking and amazing photos.
You can’t miss the charming Hotel Alfonso XIII, located between the Tobacco Factory and the San Telmo Palace.
Perhaps the second best observation deck in the city after the Giralda Tower is located on the Triana Bridge. From here you can enjoy impressive views of the Golden Tower, the Giralda and the Bull Square.
However, the main entertainment in the city, of course, was and remains flamenco. The area of Triana is especially famous in this regard, where people of free views and creative professions have long settled.
- What to see in Seville in half a day
- Where to go from Seville to the sea
- Where to watch flamenco in Seville
7 things to do in Seville
- Take a ride on the river bus along the Guadalquivir, the largest river in Andalusia.
- To visit a bullfight and form your own opinion about this controversial entertainment.
- Overtaking the ubiquitous pensioners, climb the Giralda.
- On a hot day, cool off in the Marie-Louise Park.
- Dispose of the Coke can using a pneumatic underground chute.
- Feed the pigeons in America’s Square.
- Take a deep breath of air, saturated with the smell of flowering tangerine trees.
Seville for children
Many of the “adult” sights of Seville are “sharpened” for children, even the cathedral or the Alcazar, but to fully enjoy this, you need to speak English. Newsstands and bookstores sell a whole bunch of 0+ travel literature for young tourists. However, both Russian-speaking kids and teenagers will not be bored. For the first, several first-class playgrounds are equipped in the center – at the beginning of the Guadalquivir embankment, in the Maria Luisa Park or in the Murillo Gardens.
The second will undoubtedly enjoy the Isla Magica theme park (“Magic Island”) for ages 10+. In addition to riding rides and high-speed slides, there you can get acquainted with the history, culture and art of different times and peoples and enjoy a water show. The park also has an ultra-modern planetarium, a funicular, a monorail, a large concert hall, various entertainment events are held – from laser shows to flamenco concerts. Other highlights are the so-called Navigation Pavilion (Pabellon de la Navegacion) at Expo 92 with lots of interactive exhibits, as well as boat trips, a horse-drawn carriage ride or an open-top double-decker bus.
In terms of food, kids are crazy about Spanish ice cream or churros donuts. If specific tapas and paella aren’t to your liking, it’s worth checking out one of the Italian restaurants around Plaza de Alfalfa. No one has ever turned down pasta and pizza.
Seville Hotels
The best area for tourists is, of course, around the Cathedral – here the quietest and most authentic streets, and all the sights are at hand. Moreover, the choice is quite large: there are both pompous palaces and budget hostels. One factor unites everyone – the noise of the Giralda bell tower, inviting the townspeople to Mass, as well as small parking lots, or their complete absence.
The old Jewish quarter of Santa Cruz is another tidbit in Seville, but the prices here are some of the highest. Which is no wonder: views of the Giralda or the Alcazar, many private patios, mostly designer furnishings. There are also disadvantages – small rooms. The most budget option would be to stay in Triana (noisy), which is on the other side of the Guadalquivir, or near Plaza de España, where mostly modern hotels are located. However, in terms of security, this area is not considered exemplary. Finally, you should pay attention to hotels near the Santa Justa station, especially if you want to travel a lot around the province. But the center with its sights will be at least 20 minutes on foot. See the Seville hotels page for a complete list of accommodation facilities.
