Hola Amigos! Seville Spain is waiting for you! If you are in the midst of planning a trip to Spain and wondering if Seville warrants a few days of your precious time, I am here to tell you yes… indeed it does! And here are my reasons why…
Seville, Spain ranks 11th place in Europe for having the most hours of sunshine per month, so the odds are in your favour if you are a sun seeker. Temperatures are mild during the winter months and hot, hot, hot in the summer! Luckily it is a dry heat, so a little more comfortable…. which also means better hair days!
Getting to Seville is easy-peasy. The train system in Spain is dialled in. It’s an efficient, dependable way to travel that doesn’t break the bank. You can hop on a high-speed train from Madrid and arrive in Seville in 2.5 hours. Also, Seville is a hub for travel budget airlines as well as some of the major airlines. Another option is to rent a vehicle. We chose to do a road trip for part of our venture through Spain and Seville was our last stop before relinquishing our car and making our way to Portugal by bus.
Something we noticed almost immediately after arriving in Seville was how relaxed it felt. Seville is a cosmopolitan city with a population of 700,000 (metro-population 1.5 million) and everything you could ask for at your fingertips and yet it feels as though it’s all being accomplished with ease. The Sevillians like to say “mañana, mañana”, which means tomorrow, tomorrow (no need to rush). Being from Canada, I think North Americans could really benefit from adopting this mentality.
One thing we could not get enough of was the Tapas! They are small portions of food, often accompanied by an alcoholic beverage, such as sangria or beer. Tapas have been said to originate in Andalucía, and Sevilla being the capital, takes this tradition to a whole new level. Tapas bars are steeped in tradition, it’s a part of the day for the locals to gather and be social. Some of these establishments have been around for hundreds of years. Seville has a few thousand Tapas bars to choose from. You can see which ones catch your attention or let a local guide you to their favourites and learn a bit along the way on a Tapas Tour.
Seville is a captivating mix of Roman, Moorish, Mudejar, Gothic, Baroque, Renaissance… and all that landed in between. Basically, this is one of the best cities to witness architecture through the ages. Throughout the world, some landscapes look similar. We all find ourselves comparing places and saying how they look like one another, but it is the architecture and the culture of a community moulded over time, that makes it unique. These things tell a story, and these stories are waiting for us to discover them.
*If you are wondering what neighbourhood to stay in, I would highly recommend you stay in the Barrio de Santa Cruz, also known as Old Town and the Jewish quarter of Seville. All the main attractions are close by, and the area is a wonderful collaboration of narrow streets, historical sites, museums, galleries and beautiful Plazas and shopping.
There are many points of interest and things to do in this remarkable city….
See a Flamenco Show
The art of Flamenco has been said to originate here in Andalusia. The musical folklore derives from Arab, Jewish, and Christian cultures of this area, and has been highly associated with the gypsies. It began in the 15th century but bloomed during the “Golden Age” around 1850-1910. Luckily, they have held on to this tradition and it can still be appreciated today.
Flamenco is a passionate way of storytelling, through guitar, song, and dance. Their fierce movements and powerful presence make it hard to look away. We booked an evening show that included a lovely dinner and all the wine and sangria we could desire. The costumes were just as we’d imagined; the women were stunning. I could feel my body wanting to mimic them as they twirled around, clapping their hands and stomping their feet as if to punctuate a deeper meaning. It was a unique experience and evocative of Spain’s culture. If you are curious about Flamenco, there are over a dozen places to choose from…. and even if your Spanish is extremely limited, you’ll still be able to follow the spirit of the performance.
Visit the UNESCO site of Alcázar (Royal Palace)
You may have seen this heritage site if you watched the 5th season of Game of Thrones. They filmed a few scenes on these incredible grounds. It is a beautiful union of Moorish and Gothic design within perfectly preserved gardens containing statues, fountains and the odd peacock making its presence known.
Make sure to book your tickets ahead of time, bring ID and keep your valuables out of reach. We went in the afternoon at the beginning of October, and it was hot! Try to go earlier in the day if you can and bring some water. They allow you to roam free so grab yourself a map at the entrance; there’s so much to see and it is easy to miss things. You could easily spend a couple of hours touring the property. If you only have time to do one thing in Seville, make it this!
Plaza de España
Without a doubt, this is one of the most adorned plazas in all of Spain! The iconic curved building was designed by Seville’s architect Aníbal Gonzáles for the World Fair of 1929. The tile work and intricate details are a masterful showcase of the talented craftsman of Spain. Some liken it to Italy’s Venice, because of its canal and little footbridges, you can even rent a boat there. A lovely time to visit is at sunset when the lighting is at its best and musicians and flamenco dancers are performing in the square.
* If you happen to be a Star Wars fan, you might recognize this from the 2002 film, Attack of the Clones.
*Bonus… it is free to enter
Maria Luisa Park
If you are visiting Plaza de España, you will already be in the park, so you might as well take some time to enjoy your surroundings and breathe in the sweet aromas of the many flowers and orange trees. The gardens are lush with fountains, ponds and over 140 species of trees. There are many shaded areas to rest under and places to sit and enjoy a picnic. Our favourite tree was the Bay fig with its gnarly root system that looked like something out of a mysterious folklore.
Metropol Parasol (Las Setas)
Head on over to La Plaza de Encarnación in the old quarter and let your eyes be mesmerized by the Metropol Parasol. Juxtaposed this ancient square sits a very modern colossal-sized (150m x 75 m x 28m) statue designed by German architect Jürgen Mayer, that is constructed of laminated wood.
We were in awe, it looked as though it had dropped down from outer space and we little earthlings were wandering around it, trying to figure out where it came from. It was completed in 2011 so you could say it is the new kid on the block and a welcome art piece appreciated by the locals and tourists alike. The locals named it “Las Setas” which means mushrooms, an ode to its organic nature.
You can take an elevator to the top for a fee and walk around the platform that provides a 360 view of the square. Beneath the sculpture lies Roman/Moorish ruins that were discovered while renovating the area. The archeological discovery provides 16,000 square feet of preserved history. You can check out the Antiquarium during daytime hours.
We stayed at Hotel Casa de Indias by Intur in the square and had the pleasure of seeing “Las Setas” during the day and lit up at night. Our hotel had a rooftop pool and bar area where we enjoyed cocktails while appreciating the sculpture’s grandeur.
*side note: We really enjoyed staying at this hotel. The rooms were stylish, and the staff were friendly. Seville attracts tourists from all over. We had the best afternoon hanging out with some Germans we met playing “schnick, schnack, schnuck”… or you may know it as “ paper, rock, scissors”, to determine who would be paying for the next round. They were in town to watch the soccer playoff, which had the city full of foreigners and soccer enthusiasts singing in the streets.
Guadalquivir River
Take a stroll along the river, or better yet rent a bicycle for the day and cover more ground. Seville is extremely bike-friendly and very flat, which makes riding a breeze. This river flows out to the Atlantic and was a main mercantile route for over 200 years. The river provides irrigation to all the local agriculture producing large quantities of olive oil, rice, fruit, and wine.
The Guadalquivir River has been historically known as the the fighting grounds on which conquests and acquisitions over Seville have taken place. Along the river stands the Torre del Oro which was a military watchtower built in 1220 that is dodecagonal (12-sided) and reaches a height of 36 meters. It housed a chain that crossed the river to stop any unwanted visitors. Today it is a naval museum and a distinguished landmark of Seville.
The 5km stretch along the river is a charming display of historical monuments and bridges. There are a variety of places to stop for a bite to eat and a cocktail too!
If you are a water baby, you can rent paddleboards, and kayaks or hop on a river cruise and sit back and relax.
Triana District
This lively colourful neighbourhood is located on the west bank of the Guadalquiver River and can be reached by crossing the Puente de Isavell ll (Triana Bridge). It is a long-time sailor community known for inhabiting many of Seville’s most talented artists, musicians, and flamenco dancers.
Calle Betis (Betis Street) sits along the riverfront and is that quintessential spot to sit and have long lazy hazy lunches while watching the world go by. This picture-perfect location also revs up come nightfall and becomes a vibrant place to socialize and bar-hop into the wee hours of the morning.
Inside the walls of the Castle of Saint George is Mercado de Triana (Triana Market). The market is full of splendorous produce and tasty, sweet eats. Prices are reasonable, which makes it a great place to sample a variety of goods.
If you find yourself in this neighbourhood on a weekend, Mercado del Paseo de Arte (Handicraft market) is the place to go for local artesian creations. There is everything from ceramics, leather, textiles, and paintings.
Catedral de Sevilla (Seville Cathedral)
The Cathedral was pronounced a UNESCO heritage site in 1987. It is the 3rd largest church in the world and the largest Gothic cathedral in the world.
Christopher Columbus’s remains are believed to be laid to rest here, inside a tomb held by figures representing the kingdoms during his lifetime. Why his remains have been moved so many times is a story in itself, but kind of fitting for a man who spent his life as a world explorer.
You could easily spend a couple of hours exploring the space and admiring all the ornate carvings, stained glass windows, opulent golden ornaments, and vaulted ceilings. I can’t even imagine how many thousands of hours went into constructing something of this grandeur. The view from the top of the Giralda Bell Tower is said to be spectacular. It can be reached by taking the 34 ramps to the top. Due to the long lineup, we chose to miss out on this one. This is another famously popular tourist destination that requires getting your tickets ahead of time if you want to ensure entry.
Seville is definitely up there in our favourite places to visit in Spain. The only thing really missing for us was a beach. If you choose to go during the hotter months of the year (June-Sept), do yourself a favour and book a place with a pool. Here are a few places we found in town where you can go for a swim if your accommodation doesn’t have one: Piscina Hotel Melià Seville is open until 9 pm and allows people to enjoy their pool for 16 euros. Pura Vida Terraza, Hotel Los Seises Seville allows people to use their pool for 22 euros for a half day and includes a mojito.
Another option is Piscina Municipal en Tiro de Línea, which is open until 6 p.m. and only costs 5 euros (prices may vary). Believe me, when I say you’ll want this reprieve… it gets so hot in Seville that you’ll be willing to give your left arm for this!
Well, I don’t know about you, but I think I’ve convinced myself to go to Seville! Lol!
This romantic city has so much to offer. I would love to hear from any of you who have been there and what your favourite thing to do was!
Thanxs for Stopping By!
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