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14-Feb-2012
Last 4 Reservations:
 Czech Republic > Prague:
Hotel City Bell
booked from Kaufbeuren (DE)
Italy > Rome:
Astro Hostel
booked from Burlada (ES)
Italy > Rome:
Roma 2000
booked from Street Somerset (GB)
Italy > Venice:
Hotel Tintoretto
booked from Street Somerset (GB)
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Seville city guide and tourist informationSeville (Sevilla) is the capital of Andalucia, the cultural and financial centre of southern Spain. A city of just over 700,000 inhabitants (1.6 million in the metropolitan area, making it Spain's 3rd largest city), Seville has a great deal to offer the traveller. According to legend, Seville was founded by Hercules. It was known as Hispalis under the Romans, and Isbiliya during the Moorish occupation. The high point in its history was following the discovery of America.
The city is situated on the banks of the smooth, slow Guadalquivir river, which divides the city into two (Sevilla and Triana). This river ends in Sanlucar de Barrameda and crosses the Parque de Doņana.
Seville has played host to two international exhibitions - the Iber-Americano Exhibition in 1929 and the International Exposition in 1992.
What to see in Seville
the Cathedral of Seville - once judged the third largest church in the world, after St Peters in Rome and St Pauls in London, now arguably the largest worldwide, when compared using the measurement of volume. Sevilla's 15th century Cathedral occupies the site of the former great mosque, built in the late 12th century. The central nave rises to an awesome 42 metres. Total area 11,520 square metres.
La Giralda - a large and beautiful minaret tower, originally intended for the chief mosque, but now the magnificent bell tower of the Cathedral and symbol of the city of Sevilla. Climb the stairs for a great view of the city.
The Alcázar - a beautiful Moorish palace, begun in the early 10th century.
The old Jewish Quarter near the Giralda
The Torre de Oro - a 13th century tower, the top of which was once covered in gold. It now houses the local maritime museum.
Parque María Luisa was built for the 1929 Iber-Americano World's Fair, and now is landscaped with attractive monuments and museums.
Plaza de Espaņa - the site of the Spanish pavilion from the 1929 exhibition.
The Universidad de Sevilla - a beautiful old university set near the Parque Maria Luisa. Beautiful marble floors and arches above will lead you into smaller open courtyards with tiled decorations.
What to do in Seville
Semana Santa - the sombre Easter week processions feature thousands of people and go on all week - A spectacular display of Conspicuous Catholicism
Feria de abril - a release after the sombreness of Semana Santa, a huge party of eating and drinking
See Flamenco - Flamenco is in fact very popular at the moment in Spain and is not just for tourists, however finding the right place is hard (unless you ask a local). The Cultural Centre, C/ Ximénez de Enciso, 28 (Santa Cruz), is a good spot to see real flamenco, performances are daily
Walking Tours. Really interesting and almost vital to your enjoyment of a city are all the little bits and stories that audioguides don't give. The guide is interesting and interested in what she does, if she doesn't know she will find out. Entry to buildings is not included, consider combining with a Seville tourist card. Reductions are available for taking various combinations of these tours.
Based on work by WikiTravel - Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 1.0
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