Seville Information

The Andalucian capital and fourth largest city in Spain. It is also the most populated city in the south of Spain. Also, o­ne of the most visited cities by foreign tourists. It has over 3,000 years of history and is literally a living museum.

Visit Seville in the summer and the heat can be unbearable. It is known to be o­ne of the hottest places in Europe. Springtime is more pleasant.

The most impressive building in the city has to be the biggest gothic Cathedral in the world, building began in 1401. In total the cathedral houses over 500 works of art, some of which are the most important in the world.

The tallest tower in Spain stands in Seville, attached to the cathedral, La Giralda (Moorish Tower), 319 feet high, a symbol of the city's importance. The tower is an ancient minaret of the Islamic Mosque and was erected in 1184. its foundations utilise stones from Roman monuments.

The Torre del Oro or Golden Tower was built between 1221 and 1222 and was o­ne of the last contributions from the Almohade period in Seville. It formed part of the last wall of defence that ran from the Alcazar to the river. It is said that it gained its name from the sun's reflection o­n its gold tiles that o­nce covered the dome. Today it houses the Naval Museum and all the gold has sadly been stolen. You will find it alongside the river, close to the bullring.

The Alcazar is a collection of Moorish Palaces o­n which building began in 931. It has over the years been the residence of many monarchs. The buildings and gardens are enclosed by walls and lined with orange trees.

The Casa de Pilatos (House of Pilate), was built at the end of the 15th century and was later extended. The archaeological gardens house some interesting statues and marble works.

The Monasterio de la Cartuja dates back to the 14th century. The site was ransacked during the French invasion and the monks were expelled in 1835. Shortly afterwards it became a ceramics factory.

The Plaza de Toros (bullring) is an 18th century construction that initially was built of wood. In 1761 its enclosure in stonework began. After delays caused by the Spanish Civil War, it was completed in 1881. The museum in the bullring offers an insight into the history of bullfighting. The beginning of the bullfight season takes place o­n Easter Sunday and finishes in September.

La Calle Feria (Feria Street) is o­ne of the longest streets of the city and has always been noted for its history and its charm. he street is lined with shops and workshops and runs from Resolana Street to San Juan de Palma Square. Every Thursday the street is the scene of a traditional market where stalls feature everything from paintings to antiques and furniture. The public market is also located o­n this street and is worthy of a visit. Some of the important buildings o­n the street include a Gothic church and the remains of a palace. Feria Street is a good place to start your tour of the city if you are short of time. The Plaza de España is a ´must see` with it's beautiful fountain, surrounded by a large plaza and an artificial river. Around the plaza stands a monument that forms a vast semi-circle of 200m diameter, with a tower at each end. Along the front are benches, covered in colourful tiles, each o­ne dedicated to a province of Spain. They are placed in alphabetical order. Each province is separated by small cupboards designed to house a basic library o­n each province. Inside the building you can visit the spectacular patio with it's two floors, arches and columns.

Near to the plaza is o­ne of the city's most beautiful places, the Parque de Maria Luisa. The park covers some 400,000 square metres of woodland, water features and squares. Within the park you will also find the two most important museums in the city.

Seville also has a wealth of culture to offer the visitor and the city boasts several important theatres. Pictured below is the Cupola of the Casino that is joined to the Lope de Vega Theatre. The dome was built for the 1929 exhibition in the city.

Museums in Seville also include the Carriage Museum, housing a unique and very important collection of historical transport and the Archaeological Museum which is housed in a palace and has 27 rooms containing artefacts from Iberic, Phoenician, Carthaginian and Roman villages around Seville.