Weekend in Seville!
Seville is the capital of Andalusia. It is a very beautiful city, rich in history and monuments, but also of life and colors. Walking aimlessly in the old town of Seville, in the Barrio Santa Cruz, is a truly unique experience: narrow streets and even narrower alleys, balconies full of flowers everywhere, windows and wrought iron gates, squares, gardens and courtyards to explore. But also local restaurants, bars and terraces where to spend the time and the evenings of the movida.
What to see in Seville
Seville has many monuments and pieces of history to show to tourists: the main monuments are located around the Plaza del Triunfo. Not to be missed are the Reales Alcazares, royal palaces, with the multiplicity of styles, colors and decorations, halls, rooms, Arabian corridors and gardens with ponds and water works very well cared for.
The Cathedral of Santa Maria, between Gothic and Renaissance architecture, is the second largest Christian monument in the world after the St. Peter’s Church.
To visit, inside the cathedral, there is also the Royal Chapel and the Main Chapel; but to see the pinnacles and gargoyles of the needles in a better way, you must go by foot on the Giralda, tower of 96 meters, symbol of the city. On the platform on top you can admire a unique view of the Andalusian capital. Also in the area of Plaza del Triunfo there is the General Archive of the Indies where they collected materials, documents and objects on the European colonization of Central and South America.
Just north of the royal palaces there are the Plaza de Toros, with the Real Maestranza, a structure which is a private company for the performances, and the Museo del Flamenco on Calle Manuel Rojas Marcos 3, a museum where tradition and innovation mix in rooms, with multimedia workstations, dresses, choreography and dance classes where to learn all about the Flamenco.
In Plaza de España, south of the royal palaces, used for the city big events, there are two tall towers, the canals and the Park of Maria Luisa with the Museum of Fine Arts. Finally, do not miss there is the Basilica de la Macarena with the most venerated Madonna of Seville, protagonist of a massive feast in April.
Things to do in Seville
In addition to the Barrio de Santa Cruz, the heart of the city and the entertainment, there is also the district of Triana on the western bank of the Guadalquivir.
The district is famous for pottery craft shops, but also for clubs, bars and restaurants along the river. In the cover market there are the remains of Arabs and Romans palaces. Entirely different is the Barrio de San Bartolomé, always in the old town, with his tangle of alleys and streets. Compared to Santa Cruz and Triana, it is much quieter.
Having the right time, it is also possible to have a walk by pedal along the Guadalquivir, where you can admire the Torre de Oro, a military tower with twelve sides.
In Seville, you’ll be spoiled for choice on what to buy. In the streets and squares of the city there are numerous workshops and shops selling everything: pottery, basketry, lace, traditional clothes, but everywhere there are also second-hand shops and antique dealers. Not to be missed, obviously as a souvenir, the small, medium or large dolls dancers of Seville. In the old town there are the traditional streets of the shopping and the shops of fashion: Sierpes, Tetuan, O’Donnel. Finally, you have absolutely to visit one of the “mercadillos”, the open-air markets with their colors, traditional foods, but especially antiques, furniture and objects of all kinds.
The most famous are: El Jueves, every Thursdays at the Calle de la Feria; those of Sunday in the Plaza del Cabildo, or in the Plaza de la Alfalfa, the last one specialized in pets; and the Mercadillo, held in Cartuja Island.
Where and what to eat in Seville
Where is easy to say: everywhere in the wide area of the old town! There are hundreds of tapas bars in all the squares and streets of the city, such as there are traditional, luxury and local restaurants, where to spend your evenings. The nightlife of the city takes place primarily in the street, along the streets of the Barrio Santa Cruz and Triana. The traditional cuisine of Seville offers everything from fish to meat, pork, lamb, cheese and cold cuts of high quality. The areas for excellence where to eat tapas are Triana and La Macarena.
Hotels in Seville
In the old town there are dozens of hotels, guest houses, hostels and apartments for rent, also for a few days. The offer ranges from 4 and 5 star and luxury hotels to guest houses and economic hotels in period homes. Generally, the service is high even in family-run solutions. The only problem is that the prices vary between low and high season, during periods of celebration, in the summer and during the week of April in which there is the typical Spanish feast.
About the Author
Andrea Guerriero Hi, I'm Andrea, a travel blogger, web programmer, seo apprentice and amateur photographer based in Milan. I love reading, I love music. I love to travel but only if I leave on a mission! I've been traveling through most of Europe and I love writing about it. I love photography, especially as a way to document experiences, places, events. My Nikon D300 camera is always with me, and it helps me in sharing my life with the rest of the world. Getting in touch with new people, different life styles and foreign traditions, and write about it, is all I can ask for.
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