Hello everyone and welcome back for a new adventure in the State of Spain. Let’s see what is our destination. Well, we’re heading to Seville… Let’s find something more about this city.

Seville is the capital of Andalusia. It is located on the banks of the Guadalquivir river and is considered the fourth city of Spain for the large number of inhabitants. An important artistic, cultural center (you will see how many important monuments are here!) economic. Seville is not only known for its fervent nightlife but above all because it is the home of flamenco and of the good food… Mmmh! We will not reveal more because we will find everything else along the way.

To know more ( what to eat, where to eat, where to have fun, things to visit…) continue to read.

The first thing we will do is to know the cultural aspect of Seville, so let’s start!

PLACES TO VISIT (MUSEUMS/THEATERS…)

Giralda

• Giralda: is one of the largest churches in the world and a symbol of the medieval city. Its tower is very tall and is built in brick. Inside the cathedral there are ramps (they substitute the stairs that are not so convenient) that will lead you to the top of the tower where you can enjoy a breathtaking view of the whole city. You will notice inside the tower the writing: NO8DO or “no me dejado” (you didn’t abandoned me, linked to historical reasons) and so many sections. The exterior is characterized by the Patio de los Naranjos, a beautiful cloister surrounded by trees. The Giralda has also been declared part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Museo de Bellas Artes: is considered to be Spain’s second most important museum and is located in the Plaza del Museo (near the sculpture dedicated to Bartolomé Esteban Murillo). The museum contains a great testimony of the Baroque painting of Seville by famous artists such as: Murillo, Velázquez, Zurbarán, Bilbao… The building (which doesn’t look like a museum, its facade is more like that of a church) also has a very nice courtyard.
• Museo arqueológico de Sevilla: the building is housed in the park Maria Luisa. It houses prehistoric collections, works of ancient Roman and many works like sculptures and valuable objects (such as the golden plaque from the Carambolo treasure). You will surely notice that this museum doesn’t look like the typical museums we are used to see and this is a peculiarity that differentiates the monuments of Seville.
• Flamenco Dance Museum: being Seville the home of flamenco, couldn’t be a museum dedicated to it. Inside of it there are stage costume, photographic collections and interactive sections. You can also attend a flamenco show with professional dancers and masters of this discipline. It is almost a necessary step!
• Archivo General de Indias: it is only one of the five central archives of Spain. It contains documents relating to the Spanish Empire in the Americas and the Philippines. It’s a so important building that it has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
• Casa de Pilatos: the building is a mix between the Renaissance Italian style and the Mudejar style (Muslim art), it represents a typical example of an Andalusian palace. The palace also houses a typical Andalusian patio (where there are several statues) that leads to two decorated gardens. Like the outside, the inner is very beautiful (it own some frescoes related to ancient and nature themes).
• Palacio de la Condesa de Lebrija: a historic building formerly inhabited by Countess Lebrija. It has two floors: one used for summer, the other one for winter.The palace is characterized by the richness of artistic works, being the countess a great lover of archeology and a great collector of these finds. The interior is really something magnificent and very welcoming.
• Antiquarium: is a museum located on the underground floor of the Metropol Parasol (a special and modern wooden structure in the Plaza de la Encarnación). Inside the museum there is a world and we can’t reveal it, we can only tell you that there are 3D reconstructions of ancient Roman houses. We are sure you will not regret it thanks to its high level of involvement.
• Museo pintor Amalio: is an art gallery with all works by the artist Amalio. The view is amazing, it will make you admire the cathedral and all the roofs of the houses of Seville. Is something worth seeing.
• Alcázares Reales de Sevilla: the palace is the greatest example of Mudejar architecture. It includes several sections: Patio de las Doncellas a kind of courtyard that, at the center, owns large rectangular pool with gardens on its sides; Los Baños de Doña María de Padilla are rooms for rainwater collection; Casa de Contratación and then there are also Puerta del León and Dormitorio de los Reyes Moros.
• Museum of Popular Arts and Costumes of Seville: it collects great testimonies of the history of the region and of the city through costumes and lots of objects.

Here we are some theaters for you: Lope de Vega, Central Theater and Tablao Flamenco Los Gallos (where are held flamenco shows ).

Alcázares Reales de Sevilla

 

ENTERTAINMENT (PUB/DISCO/PARKS…)

Let’s go on without any break!

Plaza de España

• Plaza de España: is a square located inside the park María Luisa, one of the most important and symbol of Seville’s history as each piece of it tells a bit of history. Its architecture is one of the most spectacular in the city, it has a semi-circular form (representing the embrace of Spain and its ancient colonies). At the center there is a fountain that wasn’t part of the original project, it has been added later. The square is crossed by four bridges representing the four ancient kingdoms of Spain. The benches allude to forty-eight Spanish provinces (on them there is a mosaic that represents historical events and coats of arms). This scenery is so beautiful that have been filmed several films including: “The Dictator” and an episode of “Star Wars”.
• Plaza de Toros: it is a kind of amphitheater, the oldest in Spain, and is the place where the Feria de Abril (a world famous bullfight festival) takes place each year and is a great attraction center for the tourists (could not be otherwise!).
• Torre del Oro: it is a military control tower that today hosts the naval museum of Seville containing models, instruments and true historical documents. At night, the building come alive thanks to the light that illuminates the entire tower.
• Puente de Isabel II: is a bridge, or better THE bridge, since it was the first to be established on Guadalquivir river. The bridge connects the ceramic quarter to the center of the city. At the end of this, on the side of Triana, lies the Chapel of the Carmen.
• Alameda de Hércules: is a square in Seville located between the river Guadalquivir and the Macarena district. Here are two important statutes: Hercules and Julius Caesar that are side by side. We anticipate (but we’ll see later in detail) that it is a very popular area in the evening, due to the large amount of locals.
• Puente del Alamillo: is a beautiful and enchanting bridge located on the Guadalquivir river. It was born to reach the former island of Cartuja (today a well-known and modern neighborhood and mother of night life).
• Buhaira Garden: walking in this historic garden it gives you the feeling to be transported to some Middle East building, thanks to its Muslim origin style. The garden is structured geometrically and it’s also divided into two sections: the garden’s building and the historic building.
• Jardines de Murillo: a symbol of Spanish art, these are divided into three different spaces: gardens of delights (in which there are marble sculptures), the gardens of Cataleina de Ribera and the gardens of Murillo. During your excursion through the various paths, you will see the vast amount of botanical species. To the north of the park you can give a look at the river and tower located on the opposite side.
• Parque de Maria Luisa: is a public garden in Seville, one of the best known in the city.
• Acuario de Sevilla: it is an aquarium or rather an “aquatic gallery” full of various species of marine animals. It’s not very big but it’s definitely a magical place (especially for the kids).
• One of the things that you should do is the cruise on the Guadalquivir River. It’s really a privilege to see Seville from this other point of view… So tickets in the hand and enjoy the show (the boat will sail at the Muelle Tower of Marques del Contadero)
• Another day, another boat ride (why not?). This time on the waters that surround Plaza España. What an adventure!
• Barrio de Santa Cruz: is a neighborhood in the center of Seville, one of the most popular and most visited in the city. It is considered a maze of alley and squares. One of the beautiful streets are: Callejón del Agua but also Judería, without forgetting the Patio of the Hospital de los Venerables. It’s all so charming and picturesque that visit them is almost an obligation!
• Plaza de San Francisco: is one of the most crowded and famous streets in Seville due to the presence of numerous bars and shops.
• Aquopolis Sevilla e Isla Mágica: they are respectively a water park and a fun park. The fun is guaranteed!!
• Sevilla Free Tours, Feel The City Tours, SeeByBike: are the major tours you can choose to do in the city of Seville.
• If you are a fan of fairs, but even if you are not, the Seville Fair is an event you can’t miss. In those days you breathe a magical and great air. All are dressed in typical clothes (flamenco ones) and so many people are gathered in the “casetas” (colorful tents set up by the locals fo the fair) all ready to taste the typical dishes (tapas or drinks). Unfortunately some of these are private but there are so many others open to the public .. anyway the fun is for everyone!!

The charming nightlife of Seville could be absolutely predictables (after all it is a city of the sensual Spain). The positive aspect is that all the streets where the nightlife takes place can be easily reached without any means of transport. The tradition want that night starts with a beer in the bars eating tapas but a recommendation: start your evening very late because here the streets and the locals start to be busy at eleven p.m.

Now we’ll suggest some areas and some places where to spend the night.

For the areas we have: Arenal, Barrio de Santa Cruz, Alfalfa, Plaza del Salvador, Alameda (for a more alternative place),Triana, Nervión, Cartuja (with many discos), Reina Mercedes (with lots of university student).

For the locals we have:

• Tokyo: longue bar
• OBBIO: disco
• Terraza Alfonso: longue bar
• Sala Cosmos: disco
• Sala Colores: night club

Feria de Abril

 

TYPICAL FOODS

Salmorejo

Andalusian cuisine is known throughout the Spain for the uniqueness of its dishes. Gastronomy occupies a very important space in the culture of Seville and we are ready to know it.

One place apart there are the traditional “tapas“, various snacks with different tastes and they are eaten as aperitif in the bar. However you can order lots of them and make them your dinner.

• Serranito is a typical local sandwich whose main ingredients are: grilled meat (chicken or pork), cured ham, fried green chili pepper and sliced tomato (there are other varieties but always with Mediterranean ingredients). The dish is accompanied by fries or sauces such as mojo picón or mayonnaise.
• Salmorejo: is a cold tomato soup, crumbs of bread, olive oil, garlic, salt and vinegar with boiled eggs and cured ham (cut into cubes).
• Bacalao con tomate: salted stew with tomato, green peppers and onion.
• Torta de aceite: this is a delicious sweet, a large cookie in rounded shape. It is covered with sugar.
• Torrijas: a sweet cake made up of slices of fried bread previously covered in a compound mixture (milk, eggs, lemon, sugar and liqueur). They are served with honey and cinnamon.
• Vino de naranja: local orange wine.

Torrijas

 

WHERE TO EAT (RESTAURANTS/CAFE’…)

We can’t deepen the knowledge of typical dishes if we don’t reach the place before. For you, some places to eat the tasty dishes of Seville.

• Zoko Sevilla: Mediterranean, European, Spanish cuisine.
• El Rincon de Rosita: Mediterranean, Spanish, vegetarian cuisine.
• Petit Comite: Mediterranean, European, Spanish cuisine.
• Taberna El Panduro Banos: Spanish, fusion, Mediterranean cuisine.
• La Azotea: Mediterranean, European, Spanish cuisine.
  
• Bodeguita Romero: bar with Mediterranean, Spanish cuisine.
  
• Bar Alfalfa: bar with Mediterranean, Spanish cuisine.
• Salsitas: fast food with Spanish cuisine.
• La Taraceina: international, Spanish, vegetarian cuisine.
• Catalina Casa de Comidas: Mediterranean, contemporary, European cuisine.

 

We came to the end of our exploration in our first, of a long series, of Spanish destinations. With Seville we started to know Spain better but it’s just the start so don’t miss the rest!

Let us know your opinions about this place. If you liked it or not, if you’ve been there or you’re going to go there? What do you like least and what more? We are curious to read your opinions.

A big kiss to everyone.

 

Below we will list the accommodations that you can find in Seville.

http://www.booking.com/searchresults.html?iata=SVQ&aid=960457&no_rooms=1&group_adults=1– accommodation near the airport San Pablo.

http://www.booking.com/searchresults.html?city=-402849&aid=960457&no_rooms=1&group_adults=1– accommodation in the city.

http://www.booking.com/searchresults.html?district=1218&aid=960457&no_rooms=1&group_adults=1-
accommodation in the Casco Antiguo.

http://www.booking.com/searchresults.html?landmark=16473&aid=960457&no_rooms=1&group_adults=1 – accommodation near the Estadio Olímpico de la Cartuja.

 

Booking.com