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Highlights of Seville
Plaza Nueva
Like most central plazas, Plaza Nueva is a popular meeting spot and located between the shopping streets and many of Seville’s other famous attractions. There are many markets that take place here throughout the year, such as the Book Fair and the Artisan Market. Looking over the plaza is a statue of the king who retook Seville from the Moors in 1248, King Fernando III. The ayuntamiento, or town hall, is also here! It’s fun to sit and take in the sights here, especially in the afternoon after all the kids have finished school because they race around on bike and scooters.
Cathedral of Seville
Christopher Columbus’ tomb? Stuffed crocodile? These are only two reasons to visit Seville’s Cathedral! La Catedral is the largest gothic cathedral in the whole world, as well as the third largest cathedral in the world. Columbus died as a poor man in the nearby town of Valladolid and since 1892 his tomb has been here. The stuffed crocodile was a gift from the Sultan of Egypt to King Alfonso X for asking for the hand in marriage of his daughter (they didn’t end up getting married, but the crocodile got to stay). The cathedral is right on the largest street in Seville, and is beautiful from any side you look at it. The tower, called the Giralda, offers a 360 view of the whole city, and there are as many as 80 side chapels surrounding the main chapel.
Museo de Bellas Artes
Besides the Prado in Madrid, the Bellas Artes Museum houses some of the best art by Spanish artists. Their collections span from medieval times to modern sculptures, with a focus on artists from Seville. The former monastery turned museum has retained much of its roots and you will find artwork hanging in what looks very similar to a church.
Plaza de Toros
Seville is one of the most famous cities in the world to see bullfighting. It is therefore also a very controversial place, since bullfights are a topic of debate. The plaza took a long time to rebuild because for a while King Carlos III prohibited bullfights but it was finally finished in the early 1900s. Bullfights are most popular in April during the Feria de Abril and during this time they are put on daily. The bullfighting season runs from about mid-March until late September. Inside the Plaza de Toros is also a small museum showcasing costumes, photos, and other pieces related to the fight. Did you know that in a bullfight more than one bull is killed? Normally 3-6 will be killed throughout the spectacle.
Alcázar
Seville is a quintessential Spanish city full of small streets, rich in history, and the Alcázar is it’s crowning jewel. It was first built as a fort in the 11th century when Seville was under Muslim rule and when the Christians conquered it in 1248 they remodeled it to make it much bigger. Interestingly enough, the architecture in the Alcázar is a mixture of Islamic and Christian styles, with it being most evident in the palace that Don Pedro added on. He had Muslim and Sevillan artists design it, and they created a synthesis of both art styles. While one inscription in Spanish proclaims that the building’s creator was the great Don Pedro, another inscription in Arabic declares that ‘there is no conqueror but Allah’! All throughout the Alcázar you will see arched doorways and windows in this Mudejar style- in fact, the Alcázar of Seville is the best example of Mudejar architecture in all of Spain. There are also beautiful gardens and a very photogenic underground bathhouse that is now a grotto.
Plaza de España
If you have seen Star Wars Episode II, you have seen Plaza de España. The magnificent, arched plaza has been featured in many movies and rightly so. It’s large, covered in the ceramic patterns typical of Andalusia, offers rowboat rides on the “Venice of Seville”, and is right next to lush, green gardens. Plaza de España was created for the Ibero-American Exhibition of 1929 in a mock mudejar and art deco style. Rumor has it that the reason it's a semi-circle is because it's embracing the U.S. Along its walls are tiled alcoves representing all of Spain’s provinces and the balconies offer exceptional views of the plaza and its towers. Interestingly enough, many government offices have homes within the walls of the Plaza so it serves a functional purpose as well.
Flamenco Show
Flamenco is the heart and soul of the south of Spain, and Seville, her capital. The most authentic flamenco shows take place here, and are passionate dancing, singing, and instrumental performances of Spanish culture and history. Flamenco is made up of four parts-voice, dance, guitar, and encouragement from the audience. It became popular in the 18th and 19th centuries, although many believe the Gypsies were its primary creators. When the Gypsies and Jews were heavily persecuted and could not express their religion or way of life, they turned to flamenco as a way of easing their pain. Going to a flamenco show in Seville is a unique experience that gives you a glimpse into the past, while at the same time preserving Spanish heritage.
Roman Ruins of Italica
Italica was an important Roman cultural center as well as one of the first Roman settlements in Spain. If that’s not cool enough, when you visit you can walk around a large amphitheater where they used to hold gladiator fights and other sporting events. It was the third largest amphitheater in the Roman world, which helps give an idea of Italica’s importance at the time. Italica was first settled in 206 BC and two of its citizens, Trajan and Hadrian, would later become Roman emperors. However, during their reign the city fell to ruins and it was used as a source of stone for building Seville.