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Seville is certainly one of the places most beloved by visitors to Spain. Located in the South of Spain, it’s both the provincial and regional capital, seat of the government and parliament of the Comunidad Autónoma de Andalucia. It is home to more than 700,000 people, nearly half the population of the whole province. The city of Seville is located on the plain of the Guadalquivir river which crosses the city from North to South. The river can be navigated from Seville all the way to its outlet near Sanlúcar de Barrameda, on the Atlantic coast. In the past the port of Seville played an important role in commerce between Spain and the Americas, today it is still one of the most active river ports of the Iberian peninsula.

A Historic City

The Tartessians, hunters and fisherman, were the original inhabitants of Hispalis (Seville) arriving around the 9th century b.c, they were followed by the Carthaginians in 550 b.c who established small settlements around the Guadalquivir river. In 207 b.c the Romans conquered the area and built Itálica, which can still be visited today and is the birth place of the emperors Trajan and Hadrian. It became the centre of their Western Mediterranean dominions for the next seven centuries. In 711 the Muslims took over the city and ruled for the next 8 centuries leaving an even greater impact on the culture and history of Seville than the Romans before them. The long Moorish occupation of the Iberian peninsula left indelible traces in Seville as in all of Al-Andalus, and it wasn’t until 1492 that the Catholic Monarchs of Northern Spain took control of the city.
Following the discovery of America, Seville became the gateway from Europe to the new world, making the city the centre of all trade and vastly wealthy. It soon attracted aristocrats, painters, writers, architects and sculptors from all over. The 17th century was a period of artistic splendour in Seville. Painters such as Velázquez, Murillo and Valdés Leal, and sculptors such as Martínez Montañés were born in Seville and left behind important works. The city also assumed an important role in world literature, the legendary “Don Juan” started from here to conquer the hearts of women all across Europe. The heroine of Prosper Merimée’s “Carmen” was a worker in Seville’s old tobacco factory.

On two occasions in the 20th century Seville was in the world’s spotlight. In 1929, it hosted the Latin American Exhibition, which generated important urban improvements. More recently, Expo 92 reinforced the image of Seville as a modern and dynamic city and further encouraged the development of the city’s infrastructure.

Andalusian Life

When you visit this city you are in the very heart of Andalusian culture, the centre of bullfighting and Flamenco music. The Andalusians are renowned for their laid back approach to life, as a result the you will find that there is always time to have a few “tapas”, those typical small Spanish dishes, and a glass of wine in one of the thousands of bars in this city.

Santa Cruz

This barrio has long been the picturesque heart of the city. Many of the best known sights are grouped here: the cavernous Gothic cathedral, one of the largest in the world, with its landmark Giralda, an impressive minaret that is all that remains of a former mosque; the splendid Reales Alcázares, the royal palaces and lush gardens of Pedro I and Carlos V; and the Archive of the Indies, whose documents tell of Spain’s exploration and conquest of the New World.
Spreading northeast from these great monuments is an enchanting maze of narrow cobbled streets and whitewashed houses. The artist Bartolomé Esteban Murillo lived here in the 17th century while his contemporary, Juan de Valdés Leal, decorated the Hospital de los Venerables with fine Baroque frescoes.
Further north, busy Calle de las Sierpes is one of Seville’s favourite shopping streets. Its adjacent market squares, such as the charming Plaza de Salvador, provided backdrops for Cervantes’ stories. Nearby the ornate façades and interiors of the Ayuntamiento and the Casa de Pilatos, a gem of Andalusian architecture, testify to the great wealth and artistry that flowed into the city in the 16th century.

Santa Cruz represents Seville at its most romantic and compact. As well as the expected souvenir shops, tapas bars and strolling guitarists, there are plenty of picturesque alleys, hidden plazas and flower-decked patios to reward the casual wanderer. Once containing the old Jewish quarter, its restored buildings, with characteristic window grilles, are now a harmonious mix of up-market residences and tourist accommodation. Good bars and restaurants make the area well worth an evening visit.

El Arenal

Bounded by the Rio Guadalquivir, El Arenal used to be a district of munitions stores and shipyards. Today this quarter is dominated by the dazzling white bullring, the Plaza de Toros de la Maestranza, where Sevillians have been staging corridas for more than two centuries. The many classic bars and wine cellars in neighbouring streets get extra busy during the summer bullfighting season.

Once central to the city’s life, the influence of the Guadalquivir declined as it silted up during the 17th century. Then El Arenal became a notorious underworld haunt on the edge of the city walls. After being converted into a canal in the early 20th century, the river was restored to its former navigable glory just in time for Expo ‘92.

The east riverfront was transformed into a tree-lined promenade, the Paseo de Cristóbal Colón, with excellent views of Triana and La Cartuja across the river making it the perfect setting for a romantic walk along the Guadalquivir. Boat trips and sightseeing tours depart from the Moorish Torre del Oro, built in the 13th century. Close by is the smart new Teatro de la Maestranza, where opera, classical music and dance are performed.

The hospital de la Caridad testifies to the city’s continuing love affair with the Baroque. Its church is filled with famous paintings by Murillo, and the story of the Seville School of painting is told with pride in the immaculately restored Museo de Bellas Artes further north. The city’ stunning collection of great works by Zubarán, Murillo and Valdés Leal is reason enough to visit Seville.

Triana

Triana, named after the emperor Trajano is on the other side of the river. The western shore of the Guadalquivir unites the old and new part of Seville. Since Roman times ceramics have been an important part of Triana’s industry.
It has traditionally been a working class area, famous for its bull fighters and flamenco. Its paved streets and ceramic shops create a refreshing but authentic atmosphere. Visitors to Triana can buy traditional ceramics, walk through the town during the day and enjoy the lively atmosphere of the bars and the panoramic views from the other side of the Guadalquivir at night.