A beautiful city with gorgeous little parks, winding streets and cobbled alleyways. Cute cafes and tapas bars dot the old town, up and down these narrow streets and large plazas. I travelled with my friend Joan for a long weekend and we based ourselves in the Barrio De Santa Cruz area – a great spot from which to explore Seville. We stayed at the Hotel Rey Alfonso X – a nice hotel, reasonably basic yet very comfortable with cute little romeo & juliet style balconies overlooking the square to the front. In this square there’s a great little cafe bar called Altamira with terrace space to the front for some al fresco drinking & dining … we started there each day for breakfast and tended to wind up there at the end of each evening for a nightcap.

The Cathedral is really impressive – Seville’s Cathedral is one of the largest in the world, completed in the early 1500s, originally Gothic in architecture, but following the collapse of the central dome in 1511, the newer work is Renaissance style. The Cathedral was built on the site of what was once a Mosque and the Mosque’s minaret, La Giralda, still stands there. The audio tour is perfect to wander around the Cathedral at your own pace yet still know what you are looking at. There are lots of little chapels and alters and beautiful works of art adorning the walls.

Plaza de Espana – built in 1929 for the Ibero-American Expo. Its somewhat gaudy but impressive none the less – fountains, tiles, staircases, balconies – we really loved it! Great for a walk around, a little shopping from the market stalls, a boat ride if the fancy takes you!

Plaza de Toros de la Real Maestranza – a spectacular bullring which seats 14,000 people; its one of the oldest and most important in the world. With its impressive Baroque façade, it dates from the late 1700s. There’s a guided tour in Spanish and English together, so can be a little tedious at times but overall worth it as its such a big part of Spanish culture and history and its wonderful to get this insight.

There’s some gorgeous little fountains and stonework monuments as you wander around Seville so take the time to just explore…

 

Along with all that sightseeing, we enjoyed lots of Sangria and Cava and delicious Paella along with tasty tapas – grilled garlic mushrooms, croquettes, prawns, paella, and far far far too much bread and breadsticks… and a Gin (or two)…

Seville is the perfect spot for a weekend away or to enjoy for a longer holiday in Spain.

Enjoy!

 

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