CTW Explores
Seville
Country: Spain Language: Spanish Currency: Euro (€)
Seville is an incredibly charming city. The grandeur of the Seville Cathedral, coupled with the historic and striking Real Alcazar creates a remarkable destination. After soaking up the history and the architecture, enjoy a walk through the Old Town area to Plaza de España, where you find yourself at a loss for words at the richness of the plaza. Indulge in delicious Spanish cuisine, find a quiet place to relax during siesta (the hottest time of the day), and watch the city come alive as the sun goes down.
CTW Must See
Plaza de España
Plaza de España was built in 1929 for the Ibero-American Exposition. The plaza displays stunning Renaissance Revival architecture designed by Aníbal González. It features two towers towers, one on each end, a main central building, and a semi-circular hall. The four beautiful bridges crossing the moat represent the four ancient kingdoms of Spain, and the many tiled Alcoves of Provinces creates an ideal photo opportunity for visitors to snap a photo of their home, or favorite Spanish destination.
Parque de Maria Luisa
Maria Luisa Park connects to Plaza de España. This peaceful park was donated to Seville in 1893 by the Duchess of Montpensier. The park holds a variety of monuments, fountains, and buildings. The Archaeological Museum stands in Plaza de America, which also has a tranquil pond and grand architecture that certainly stands out from the greenery.
Palacio de San Telmo
The Palace of San Telmo is a Baroque-styled palace just outside the old city walls. Construction began in 1682, and it served many purposes over the years. It was used as the headquarters for the Railway Society, as the Literary University, and finally a residence for the Dukes of Montpensier.
Real Alcazar
The Alcazar of Seville is one of the most monumental buildings in the city and is one of the most visited complexes in the world. The upper levels are still used by the royal family! This makes the Alcazar one of the oldest royal palaces still in use today. The remains of the complex date back to the 1st century, but the building was restored in the 12th century, by the Almohades. If you are a Game of Thrones fan, you will certainly recognize this palace as Dorne! A ticked is required to visit the Alcazar and can be purchased online. This will save you a lot of time, as the queues for tickets at the door can get very, very long.
Book your tickets at the official website: alcazarsevilla.org/
Seville Cathedral
Seville Cathedral is a huge Gothic building. It was consecrated in 1507 and took nearly a century to build! It is the third largest church in the world, but very close in size to St. Peter’s in Rome and the Cathedral Metropolitana Nossa Senhora Aparecida in Brazil. The cathedral’s interior has the longest nave of any in Spain and holds 80 chapels. The grandeur of the cathedral is magnificent inside and out. A visit to the cathedral will bring you close to Christopher Columbus, as his tomb lies in the cathedral. A ticket is required to visit the cathedral, but this allows access to the bell tower and to the Church of Salvador.
Church of Salvador
Dating back to the 9th century, this Baroque style church has evolved greatly from its origin. The building we see today began construction in 1674 and took nearly 30 years to complete. A ticket is required to visit this church, but this ticket will also give you access to the Seville Cathedral and tower. If the lines are long at the Seville Cathedral, you can buy your tickets here and skip the line at the cathedral.
Plaza Mayor
The Plaza Mayor in Seville is different from the Plaza Mayor you will find in other Spanish cities. The plaza is covered with the Metorpol Parasol, a large wooden structure, said to be the largest in the world. The white parasols are connected to form mushroom-like columns. The structure was completed in 2007, and has created a modern and peaceful section of the city. Roman ruins were discovered during construction of the structure, and they can now be seen at the Museo Antiquarium below the parasol. For a small fee, you can visit the museum underground and walk along the top of the parasol for some impressive city views.
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