The city: Seville
Located in south-western Spain, Seville is
the capital of Andalucia and is considered one of the most beautiful cities in Spain. It is
awash with colour and contrasts, and offers an amazing mixture of modernity and
tradition; there is no doubt that Seville is the most delightful city in Spain.
Christened “Hispalis” by the Romans and
“Isbilya” (from which its present-day name comes) by the Moors, Seville has
been from the very beginning an important commercial and cultural centre. It
has hosted major exhibitions (Spanish and Latin American in 1929 and Expo '92)
which have all contributed to the city's growth and embellishment. Traces of
this glorious past remain in its monuments and architecture, including
wonderful examples of the styles of the various cultures which have made
Seville a city with a great personality. The Parque María Luisa, the Giralda,
Plaza de España, the Real Alcázar (royal palace), the Torre del Oro, the La
Maestranza bullring, museums housed in much-treasured buildings, its typical bridges
and its popular districts are just some of the places where the unique delights
of this beautiful Andalucian city are reflected. Its main monuments are
disseminated along the banks of the River Guadalquivir which represents the
city's backbone.
Today, the centre of modern Seville is the
Isla Cartuja, shaded by the ancient Carthusian monastery, where one of Spain's
largest modern art centres can be found. La Cartuja hosted the Exposición
Mundial in 1992 (Expo ’92) whose pavilions are still in use today for
industrial purposes and tourism.In addition to its architectural marvels, the
city offers a whole range of cultural events all year round with something for
everyone: Flamenco, bullfights, its vicinity to the sea, soirées at the
theatre, its amazing Feria de Abril and its Semana Santa [Holy Week]
celebrations which reflect Seville's devotion and folklore, as well as a
plethora of terraces, bars and typical nooks and crannies which lend themselves
to one of the city's most prized, tasty customs: "trying the tapas".
Easily accessible, Seville has become not
only a tourist destination but also the number one gateway to Andalucia, as it
is the main artistic, financial, economic and social centre in southern Spain. Its
intricate network of streets, mild climate and the open, welcoming nature of
its people make Seville a cosmopolitan, multicultural city with a very unique
atmosphere.
Places of interest
The Giralda
This used to be the tower-minaret of the Ben
Basso mosque built under the Almohad dynasty. The mosque was demolished to
build the temple-cathedral but the tower survived. A huge statue which
symbolises the triumph of the Christian faith, known as the Giraldillo, gave
the splendid tower its name. The Giralda is the tallest building in Seville and
its silhouette, which can perhaps be described as the city’s pièce de
résistance, can be seen from all over the city.
Further
information
Museo de Bellas Artes
This is one of the largest fine arts museums in Spain. Situated
in the Convento de la Merced, works by El Greco, Zurbarán and Valdés Leal are
displayed. The collection of paintings by Murillo, found in the convent's
church, deserves a special mention.
Further
information
Museo Arqueológico de Sevilla [Seville archaeological museum]
Housed in a Renaissance building in Plaza de
América in the Parque de María Luisa, this museum houses interesting
prehistoric and Roman collections.
Further
information
Parque temático Isla Mágica
Located on the Isla Cartuja, this park was
opened in 1997 and makes use of part of the infrastructure left following Expo
'92. It focuses on the century of discoveries (16th century) and
houses a number of state-of-the-art attractions, large audiovisual displays,
fascinating shows, amusing street bands and fun games, as well as excellent
restaurants and shops.
Further
information
Festivals of interest
SEMANA
SANTA [HOLY WEEK]
This is in March or April, depending on the
church calendar, between Palm Sunday and the Resurrection. The origin of Semana
Santa in Seville goes back to the 16th century, when the first hermandades
and cofradías [brotherhoods] arrived. There are currently more than 50 cofradías
who march in a procession in homage to Christ and the Virgin. For the whole
week, sanctuaries are visited and people attend various religious celebrations.
A public and very diverse catechism passes through the streets, based on the
sacred images of brotherhood, a procession whose steps represent the different
stages of the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
THE
FERIA DE ABRIL
The Feria de Abril goes back to the 19th
century, when it was a livestock festival but rapidly evolved into a burst of
cheer, colour and liveliness where fun is the name of the game. The festival,
in which the natural beauty of girls and women from Seville is enhanced by
Flamenco costumes, is the ideal time to come together as friends, with glasses
of manzanilla, and a few tapas of course, to the sound of
traditional Seville singing and dancing. Over this period, Seville becomes
brightly coloured, decorated with thousands of a fairy lights, paper flowers,
photographs, people, paintings and other decorations.
THE
VELÁ DE SANTA ANA
These are festivals of the traditional district
of Triana. In Calle Betis stalls are set up, whose exterior is similar to that
of the festival, where you can eat, drink and dance without an entry fee. A
stage is set up in Plaza del Altozano on which a variety of shows takes place
every evening, particularly traditional song and dance contests.Its cuisine is another of its strengths and
you can sample a whole variety of Andalucian specialities such as grilled
sardines and its famous fried fish.