Essential Spain
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Seville Attractions
Archaeological Museum
Plaza de América
Originally built as part of the 1929 exhibition, the Archaeological Museum has a specific focus on the Roman times. It also includes sections on the Stone Age, the Bronze Age and the Iron Age through their various periods in the Sevilla region. Among the exhibits is the Carambolo Treasure dating back to the 6th century, which was found when digging began for a new sports stadium in 1958.
Cathedral
Avenida de la Constitución
Sevilla’s Cathedral is in fact the largest Roman Catholic cathedral in the world (given that St Peter’s in Rome in not actually a cathedral). The cathedral was built on the site of a former mosque in the late 1100s and it covers a total area of more than 11,500 square metres. Inside the cathedral there is a collection of paintings, jewellery and sculptures and the building also plays host to the resting place of Christopher Columbus.
Alcazar Royal Palace
Plaza del Triunfo
The Alcazar Palace started out life as a Moorish fort but gradually underwent phases of expansion after it became a royal palace for King Pedro of Castile from 1364. The palace has a distinct Islamic feel to it given that it was built by Moorish workers, while later monarchs decided to make their own additions, for example some Gothic architecture. The venue proved popular for General Franco - he stayed in it whenever he visited Sevilla, and indeed he made his own modifications to it also.
Fine Arts Museum
Plaza del Museo 9
The Fine Arts Museum began functioning as early as 1839 having transformed from a Paintings Museum which it was from 1835. Prior to that it was a convent and so it is no surprise that its first exhibits were those of closed down convents and monasteries. It now has an extensive collection of Spanish art beginning in the medieval era and continuing through to the modern period. Among the contributors are Francisco de Zurbarán, Juan de Valdés Leal and Bartolomé Esteban Murillo.
La Giralda Minaret
Avenida de la Constitución
The Minaret is the bell tower of Sevilla’s sizeable cathedral. When the tower was first built it was two thirds of what it is today - 97.5 metres, making it the tallest tower in the world at the time. Bringing a sense of originality to the structure, parts of it were built by different cultures - the original section was built by Muslims in the 12th century, before Christians replaced the sphere with a cross and a bell a little later.
Casa de Pilatos
Plaza de Pilatos
The Casa de Pilatos today acts as a residence for the dukes of Medinaceli although it was once home to the Marquis of Tarifa. The building came into existence in the 16th century and combines a mixture of Spanish Mudejar and Italian Renaissance styles after the Marquis spent some time in Italy and brought home some new thoughts and ideas. The house takes its name from its alleged resemblance to the house of Pontius Pilate in Jerusalem after the Marquis visited there also.
Torre del Oro
Paseo de Christobal Colon
The Torre del Oro was built in the 13th century by the Moorish Almohades as a first defence before the city walls. The tower is thought to have gained its name due to a series of golden tiles which covered parts of the building (Oro means gold in Spanish). Today, inside the tower is a Naval Museum with an array of maps and various other antiques.
Town Hall
Plaza Nueva
The 16th century Town Hall was built on the former site of the San Francisco monastery in a typically Renaissance style. Inside the Town Hall are the elaborately decorated meeting rooms of the city’s council.
Archive of the Indies
The Archive of the Indies houses the important documents charting the Spanish empire’s history in the Americas and the Philippines. It is deemed a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is located near to the cathedral and the Alcazar Royal Palace.
Donana National Park
The National Park is a major site for migrating birds and is also an extensive wetland reserve in the Andalucia province. The site, covering 1,300 square kilometres, has become something of a leading conservationism site. The Park is particularly well-populated by a wide-range of different types of birds and has a range of habitats that are conducive to a number of sorts of wildlife.
Aracena Sierra Forest
The Aracena Sierra is an expansive area of woodland with fantastic views and large forest areas. The national park is located towards the Portuguese border and so requires a journey from Sevilla, but it is well worth a visit. There are chestnut, cork and oak trees set among the Aroche mountains and there is also a castle nearby, as well as some lakes for water sports and fishing.
Santiponce/Italica
Near to Sevilla is the city of Italica just north of modern day Santiponce. It is an ancient Roman city which was founded in 206 BC and gives some idea as to what an earlier Seville (formerly known as Hispalis) may have looked like. Emperor Trajan was born in the city and it was he who initiated the building of temples and other public buildings including a 25,000-seater amphitheatre - the third largest in the Roman empire.
Semana Santa
Semana Santa, or Holy Week, commemorates the week before Jesus’ death and resurrection and Spain in particular is well known for its celebration of these events. In Sevilla there is a series of pasos which are lifelike sculptures that are paraded through the city telling the story of the week’s events. The most famous processions occur on Good Friday night as the week builds into something of a crescendo.
Feria de Abril
Held a couple of weeks after Semana Santa is Feria de Abril de Sevilla, or the Seville Spring Fair. Each day of the six day long festival begins with a parade of riders and carriages before an extravaganza of bullfighting. Throughout the whole week a real party atmosphere gathers pace making it an excellent week to visit the Andalucian capital.