Want to travel to Seville? It's a great idea! This great city offers great architecture and unique corners where you will live a unique experience. Visit its cathedral, its wonderful Plaza España and its Giralda. At ForSevillaLovers we have created a list with all the things to see and activities to do in Seville that will make your visit unique. You will love it!
What to see in Seville
Seville is flamenco, tapas, bullfighting, fiestas, everything that embodies the essence of Spain. You will discover the old quarters with their narrow streets, the tranquility of the parks and the joy of the people that reveals itself especially during the festivals for which the Andalusian capital is famous. Seville has an architectural heritage of great value, the Cathedral, the Giralda and the Reales Alcazares are an example, but it is advisable to visit the city in the milder seasons, so as not to swelter in the heat.
Royal Alcazars Seville
The Reales Alcazares (Royal Palaces) are the most impressive monuments in Seville. Characteristic of these buildings is the mixture of styles and decorations, ranging from Islamic to neoclassical.
The Alcazàr, a former Moorish fortress, is a great example of Mudejar architecture with halls, courtyards and gardens that create a fascinating combination of colours. Next to the Alcazar is the Palace of Charles V which houses an important collection of tapestries depicting the king's conquest of Tunisia. From the Palace you can go directly to the Alcazar Gardens where the Moorish style has been combined with the Moorish style to create a fascinating combination of colours.
The Cathedral of Seville
Gothic and Renaissance styles come together in the most impressive monument in the Christian world after St. Peter's Basilica: the Cathedral of Santa Maria in Seville.
It consists of five internal naves, in Gothic style, and two chapels, the Royal Chapel and the Main Chapel. The former is crowned by a Renaissance dome; the latter contains paintings depicting scenes from the life of Christ and the Virgin. The Cathedral was built on the site of the Great Mosque, demolished in the 15th century, and of the old construction only the Giralda and some remains of the Patio de los Narajos are preserved.
The Giralda of Seville
The Giralda, emblem of the Andalusian capital, is the bell tower of the Cathedral: a monument of 96 meters high that fully reflects the style of the Almohads, rigid in religious matters and enemies of luxury, in the combination of monumental grandeur with refined simplicity.
The Giralda owes its name to the statue of Faith (called Giraldillo) that dominates it and turns on itself according to the direction of the wind. From inside the Cathedral you can access a platform, located at the top of the tower, from which you can admire the whole city from above.
The Triana quarter of Seville
The western bank of the Guadalquivir River is home to the characteristic district of Triana, where the old city and the modern city coexist. Triana was originally a neighbourhood of sailors, workers, industrialists and potters, and even today, entering the neighbourhood, you can still buy handmade pottery in the workshops. The riverside, on the other hand, which stretches from the San Telmo bridge to the Isabel II bridge, is a concentration of trendy bars and restaurants that offer a good opportunity to have fun at night. Another feature of Triana is the covered market where it is possible to admire the remains of the Arab and Roman civilizations.
The San Bartolomé quarter of Seville
Baroque, Gothic and Renaissance styles interpenetrate in the elements that make up the Barrio de San Bartolomé. From the Church of Santa Maria la Blanca, through the Plaza de San Francisco, through the Casa de Pilatos, through the Church of Santa Magdalena, an intertwining of different styles make the charm of this neighborhood. San Bartolomé with its labyrinth of narrow streets surrounded by old low houses, is a lonely and quiet place, ideal for long and quiet walks. Although the Barrio is not a popular destination for Sevillian tourism, it actually retains all the authenticity of the city.
Plaza España
The Plaza de España, within the Parque de María Luisa, was built in 1929 for the Ibero-American Exposition, based on a project by the Sevillian artist González.
Decorated with bricks, ceramics and coloured marble, the square has a particular symbolism of its own: the semicircular shape recalls Spain's embrace of its new colonies; the 58 seats represent all the Spanish provinces; the Spanish Palace inside, imposing and proud, represents the prestige of the Spanish world power; finally, the Plaza de España looks towards the river, the route to follow to reach America.
The House of Pilate in Seville
The Casa di Pilato is a masterpiece of 15th century Renaissance art, commissioned by Don Fadrique and perhaps inspired by the house of Pontius Pilate in Jerusalem.
Legend has it that the marquis realized that the distance between his house and the nearest church was the same as the distance between Pontius Pilate's residence and the place where Jesus was crucified. He then decided to place the 14 Stations of the Cross along the route, the first of which (the trial of Jesus) coincided with his house. That is why it was believed that his palace was also a copy of Pilate's residence. The 1533 building is a successful mixture of Renaissance, Flamboyant Gothic and Mudejar styles and has a beautiful courtyard of 24 arches with busts of Caesar, Roman statues or walls decorated in Mudejar style. The garden is also beautiful.
What to do in Seville
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Going out at night: In winter as well as in summer, Seville is an always active city. Sevillians don't let themselves be stopped by the cold or the heat and every day of the year is the right time to be together, to go out in the streets and discos and have fun: this is the spirit of the people.
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Eating typical dishes: Sevillian cuisine offers fresh products from both the land and the sea. Fish is the main item on the table, carefully cooked and almost always fried; for meat lovers, on the other hand, there is no lack of tasty dishes such as goose a la sevillana or fried lamb.
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Visit the Seville Aquarium: Very recent (opened in 2014), the Seville Aquarium (Acuario de Sevilla in Spanish) can be a great place to go with your kids. Things to see: exotic fish, sharks, turtles, octopuses and ponds to touch starfish and sea cucumbers.
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Enjoy the local festivals: Seville is famous for the festivals and traditions that take place here. There are two main ones: Semana Santa de Sevilla and Feria de Abril. If you are in the city during one of these two events, it will be mandatory to participate in one of the two most important folkloric events in the city.
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Discover the wonderful traditional bars: El Rinconcillo, Bodega Morales, Bodeguita la Aurora, Blanco Cerrillo are just some of the traditional bars in Seville. In these places, often crowded with people, you will have to eat standing up some of the most famous tapas of Seville, such as serranito, chicharrones, pescaito frito or spinach with chickpeas.
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Discover the most famous markets in Seville: There are many markets in Seville that we can visit during our visit to the city. In various areas of the city, on specific days, we can stroll among the stalls and buy what fascinates us most: crafts, paintings, coins, stamps, etc.. A thing to do in Seville that is very interesting for Italians.
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By boat in Plaza España: If we visit Seville accompanied by children, this experience will surely not be missing among the things to do at all. In the Plaza de España there is a river where you can rent a boat and tour the beautiful infrastructure of Anibal Gonzalez in the company of the family. Another experience is a ride through the city in typical horse-drawn carriages.
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Cruise on the Guadalquivir: The cruise on the Guadalquivir is a very popular boat. Besides giving the visitor a new point of view of the city, it is a relaxing experience. After strolling through the city, sitting back and letting yourself be carried away by the boat is a welcome activity. From the boat you will be able to see the two opposite banks of the river: Seville and Triana.
Where to sleep in Seville
Being a very popular tourist destination, a must during a tour of Andalusia, Seville has an excellent accommodation capacity. Depending on the type of accommodation you prefer and the budget you want to spend, the city has hotels, hostels, apartments or luxury rooms both cheap and extra.
When booking your holiday in Seville, remember that autumn and spring are the high season, but the Andalusian capital is beautiful to visit and experience at any time of the year. Every corner of Seville is worth exploring, the well-known and lesser-known places have a charm worth discovering.
