Seville
Spanish Exoticism
It may lack the cool factor of
Barcelona, the movida of
Madrid, or the modern architectural wonders of Bilbao and Valencia,
but Seville is the most beautiful and seductive of all Spanish cities.
Rich in Moorish architecture and home to the passionate flamenco and bullfighting, it is the soul of Spain. It retains that soul
and its character even as it modernizes, and walking through its winding backstreets reveals the mark of a glorious past.
Its cathedral, the world's third largest, used to be a great mosque, reflected in its tall bell tower that was built as a minaret.
The maze of whitewashed streets leading to it is filled with flower-decked patios, picturesque plazas and alleys, and tapas bars.
A horse and carriage ride in Plaza de España is another delight, but escaping the city's sultry summer heat to the beaches of
Costa del Sol
is also tempting. In fact Seville is the perfect gateway to exploring all of the magical province of Andalusia,
including the must-see historical cities of
Granada and
Cordoba.
The exotic splendor of Seville together with the beauty and variety of its surroundings create the perfect romantic and
rewarding city break destination. A long, relaxing break.
 
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- The exquisite Moorish architecture of the Real Alcazar.
- The bell tower and the interior of SEVILLE CATHEDRAL.
- The landmark TORE DEL ORO.
- The monumental PLAZA DE ESPAÑA.
- A flamenco show in the TRIANA neighborhood.
- Shopping in CALLE SIERPES.
- The baroque MAESTRANZA BULLRING.
- Tapas dining in the EL ARENAL quarter.
- The splendid Baroque church in the HOSPITAL DE LOS VENERABLES.
- Excursion to Cordoba.
Look for the hotel or hostel that best matches your budget, type of trip or personality. Here you can guarantee a room but you do NOT pay anything at the time of booking. Payments are only made at the hotel and there are no booking fees.
Most hotels allow cancellations with no penalty if done up to 24 or 48 hours in advance. You'll see that information at the time of booking and again in the confirmation email.
Spain's famous tapas were first served in Seville. Going for a tapeo (a tapas bar-hop) in the Santa Cruz neighborhood is an experience you can't miss, although you should also take some time to sample the new and creative cuisines at the more recent restaurants. You'll find out that this is a city made for eating and drinking, with long (and late) meals washed down by a good vino.
The main shopping area in Seville is Calle Sierpes and its surrounding streets. You'll walk past small boutiques in the side streets,
and find everything from the traditional Andalucian shawls to the Spanish big names like Zara and Mango.
The Triana neighborhood has beautiful ceramics that most visitors end up taking as souvenirs, while for upscale shops the address is Plaza Nueva.
Local artists show their stuff every Sunday at a simple but interesting art market on Plaza del Museo next to the Museo de Bellas Artes, and other markets include the famous flea market every Sunday morning in Alameda de Hercules. On Thursday there's the El Jueves, with all kinds of stalls filling Calle Feria.
Keep in mind that many of the shops close between 2 and 5PM for siesta time.
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