In the old city tourists would like to visit the Cathedral and Giralda Tower at its hearth. The enormous Cathedral stands on the ground where a Mosque of the 12th century took place. It covers an area of 11,520 square meters with a central nave that rises 42 meters to the sky and side chapels as tall as an ordinary church with monuments of successive ages. The decoration is simple and there is a perfect balance between its parts. La Giralda Tower was the minaret of the mosque previous to the cathedral and as the Lonely Planet on its Spain guide accurately describes it: Its proportions, delicate patterned brick decoration and colour which changes with the light, make it perhaps the most perfect Islamic building in Spain. There are some additions made to the building by the Christians and opinion is divided on whether it has improved or spoiled the tower.

Another important sight is the Patio de los Naranjos, it was once the courtyard of the mosque and it is called the Orange Patio due to the fact that it has a plantation of over 60 orange trees.

Very close by are the Royal Mujedar Palace known as the Alcazar and the Santa Cruz quarter. In regards to the Alcazar, there are several versions of the history of this place. Some affirm the Alcazar was built by Muslim rulers in the 10th century and others say it was King Pedro the cruel using Moorish workmen. Anyways it has been adapted and enlarged in many occasion depending on the monarchs. Surely this beautiful place with its rooms, chambers, patios and gardens can not be missed. On the other hand, the Santa Cruz quarter was the medieval Jewish quarter of Seville. It is a picturesque neighbourhood with narrow streets and whitewashed houses.

El archivo de indias is a very important place as well because it is the main archive on the conquest and colonisation of America. It houses over 40 million documents dating from 1492 through to the end of the empire in the 19th century. Also la Casa de Pilatos is a very interesting place, the first Marquis of Tarifa tried to resemble in this building the palace of Pontius Pilate in Jerusalem. Subsequent owners have contributed to the building over time which has resulted in a nice mixture of diverse architectural styles.

Finally, the city walls and gates as well as the Maria Luisa Park are unmissable. Formerly Seville was a strongly fortified city. The walls were designed not only to defend the city but to prevent floods from the Guadalquivir River. From the original 166 watchtowers and 9 gates only 3 of each of them remain. In terms of gates: Puerta de Cordoba, Puerta Macarena and Postigo del Aceite and towers: Torre de Oro, Torre de Plata and Torre Blanca. The park is a paradise within the city, it is full of palms and orange trees, elms and Mediterranean pines combined with ponds and pavilions.

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Gaizka Pujana is the co-owner of Barcelona Homes, S.L. which is a company
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The culture built over the 700 years following the 711AD Muslim invasion became the highest example of civilised life, the envy of the known world. It is with this in mind that we open our eyes to the role of the Muslim world in the formation of modern-day Europe. It is with this in mind that we see the story behind much of the architecture and accommodation in Seville, since it points back to the Moorish epoch (the 711AD invaders became known as the Moors) as a period of innovation, from the construction of buildings and society to technological advances such as paper and irrigation, and splendour.

The Alcaacutezar palace is worthy of such a visit. But keep in mind Seville is uncomfortably hot during summer. Winters are said to be mild and without the hordes of tourists, and are as such a recommended time to book Seville holiday apartments. Springs are also climatically nice, but come with the crowds, which in turn come with peak rates across all types of holiday accommodation from B&Bs and hotels to Seville apartment rentals.

For many spring is the draw, since this is when Semana Santa (Holy Week) – the week leading up to Easter – and the colourful two-week fiesta that follows it takes place. Semana Santa is internationally well known, particularly for its long processions of the robed and generally hooded.

The distinctive hooded cap is pointed in much the same fashion, it is often noted, as those worn by the Ku Klux Klan. While choice of attire is where any analogy with the Ku Klux Klan ends, there is another memory conjured by these lines of hooded figures.

Isabella and Ferdinand – “the Catholic Monarchs” – set up the Spanish Inquisition, to root out non-Catholics and eliminate the last stronghold of Muslim Spain. The auto-de-fe acute; was the religious ceremony during which heretics were made to repent their sins before their pointy-hooded accusers. The first Spanish auto-de-fe acute; took place in Seville, in 1481.

Should you then book a holiday apartment in Seville for the week leading up to Easter, the religious ceremonies attached to it may well inspire remembrance of this grisly history. Following the auto-de-feacute;, proclaimed heretics might be burnt at the stake; Most would loose their homes and livelihoods.

It is interesting in today’s climate of denigrating Muslim character and culture, both current and historical, that these two chapters in Spanish history have such opposite roots: There is no evidence of forced conversions to Islam in Muslim Spain. Weather or not the hooded processions are vestiges of the auto-de-feacute; there is something to be remembered about the spirit of acceptance that people in pointy hats seem to have historically failed to do.

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Seville has many Moorish characteristics that are evident in its historic buildings and city wall. The Moors controlled the city from 712 until it fell to Fernando III in 1248. From that time, many public buildings and churches were built and many of these can also still be seen today.

When visiting Seville, there are a few sites that are must-sees for any tourist. Begin by going to the city’s cathedral which was built between 1401 and 1519. It contains the longest nave in the whole of Spain and is among the largest medieval and Gothic cathedrals that have been built. It was built where the city’s mosque was situated and in fact, it used parts of the mosque in its building. You can see some columns and a minaret that were converted to be incorporated into the cathedral. It also features a large amount of gold and is extravagantly decorated. It is must see from an architectural and historic point of view.

The Alcazar faces the cathedral. It was developed from the city’s Moorish palaces and sports beautiful gardens that bring together Moorish, Andalusian and Christian themes.

The Torre del Oro was a watchtower on the river and the Town Hall was built in the 16th century. There are also very many beautiful parks and gardens from different eras of the city’s history.

There are two world renowned festivals in Seville each year, Holy Week (Semana Santa) and the April Fair (Feria de Abril) and if you are lucky enough to visit Seville during those times, you will see women wearing rich Flamenco dresses, large marquees and plenty of dancing and drinking. Seville boasts a gastronomically pleasing cuisine that is not to be passed over by tourists to the area. Its cuisine reflects its rich history and is therefore varied and exciting.

There is a range of visitor accommodation in Seville. Tourists to the area can elect to stay in a traditional hotel or in a more modern one. The city offers in the range of 20,000 sleeping options for tourists. They have hotels anywhere from one to five stars, hostels and any variety of guest houses. It should be mentioned here that although there is a huge variety of accommodation available, many of the cheaper Seville hotels are beginning, or have already, undergone renovations in order to upgrade them into more attractive hotels. This is naturally pushing up the prices of some of the previously inexpensive sleeping options.

Due to the attraction of the festivals in Seville, it is important to book hotels well in advance or you may find that you are stuck. In fact, even for weeks other than festival weeks, it is important to book in advance due to Seville’s mild Mediterranean climate that makes the city an attraction all year round.

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Although Seville is located well away from the coast, it’s still only about 20 feet above sea level. It was once an important sea port. In fact, explorer Ferdinand Magellan got the ships he used to circumnavigate the globe from Seville. It was also the recipient of much of the silver brought over from the New World.

Because of the riches brought over from the Americas, Seville drew quite a large population in the 16th and 17th centuries, making it the largest city in Spain until around 1649 when the Great Plague of Seville struck. Though the city fell from importance in terms of population and economics, it is still valued as an artistic center of the baroque.

Seville today is home to many great tourist attractions. Its cathedral was built between the years of 1401 and 1519. It is the largest Gothic and medieval cathedral in the world, elaborately decorated and containing quite a bit of gold. It is topped by the city’s most famous statue, La Giraldilla, which symbolizes faith.

Located facing the cathedral is Alcazar, an old Moorish palace that took more than 500 years to build. Its grounds include lovely gardens in a blend of Moorish, Andalusian, and Christian styles.

On the river is the Torre del Oro, a watchtower built by the Almohad dynasty. It was used as a defensive barrier on the river by stringing a heavy chain from its base across the river to stop boats from traveling through.

With so many wonderful things to see, it’s not surprising that Seville is a magnet for tourist activity. Fortunately, there are many accommodation choices for Seville’s tourists, including hostels, hotels, and apartments.

Seville Hostels

Examples of hostels in Seville include:

Hostal Redes: This hostel is located within walking distance of many of the major attractions in Seville, including cathedrals and the Fine Art Museum. There are eight double rooms and one single room available for guests. Three of the rooms include an extra bed. Each room has a bathroom with a shower. Includes Internet access, laundry, television room, public telephone, and other amenities.

Hostal Nuevo Suizo: Located in central Seville, Nuevo Suizo offers free breakfast, Internet access, and reservations for shows and tours. It is within walking distance of monuments, museums, supermarkets, and the city’s shopping area.

Oasis Backpackers Hostel Sevilla: Although you can make reservations for this hostel, they always save beds for walk ins. It is located in the center of Seville’s cultural and historic area and is walking distance from many tourist sights. The rooftop terrace not only has a beautiful view of the city, it also has a swimming pool!

Seville Hotels
Examples of hotels in Seville include:

Hesperia Sevilla Hotel: This hotel is five minutes from the train station and 15 minutes from the International San Pablo Airport. It includes a parking area, restaurant, bar, solarium, Jacuzzi, and indoor swimming pool.

Eurostars Regina Hotel: This 90 room, 3star hotel is within walking distance of Seville’s historic center. It’s near the Fine Arts Museum and the Cartuja Park. Services and amenities include parking area, bar, newspapers, breakfast buffet, and car rentals.

Best Western Hotel Cervantes: The Best Western is located a short 10 minute walk from the Cathedral, Giralda tower, and the Isla Magica theme park. It boasts crystal glass ceilings and was completely remodeled in 2006. Services and amenities include parking area, elevator, breakfast buffet, Internet access, and soundproofed rooms.

Seville Apartments
Examples of apartments in Seville include:
Sevilla Alameda 2: This apartment sleeps up to three people in a typical Sevillian house in central Seville. It’s on the plaza Alameda de Hercules, which is a park with many bars, restaurants, and shops close by. Includes bathroom with shower, living room, open kitchen, television, radio, and computer with Internet access.

Peral56Sevilla: This apartment is located in the historic center of the colorful La Macerena district. It’s on a quiet street near one of the main thoroughfares that hosts the Feria Market each Thursday. During this market, the street is lined with booths where merchants sell a wide range of items. The apartment sleeps up to four and includes a washing machine, air conditioning, television, and cleaning service.

Holiday Home in Seville: This is a three-story house that has been completely remodeled, but still has 19th century details. It sleeps up to seven, so it’s perfect for a large family or touring group. It’s close to tourist attractions, with a short 10 minute walk to the cathedral.

Although accommodations in Seville tend to be a bit more expensive than in other areas of Spain, you will get a better rate if you visit in the winter months. However, with some careful research, you can also find places that offer cheaper rates in July and August due to hot temperatures that chase some tourists away.

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Among some of the spectacles performed by the nobility were bullfights on horseback. When bullfighting on foot became popular with the working classes in the late 18th Century, work on Seville’s Maestranza Bullring began and continued for over a century. Its capacity for 12,500 spectators does not make it the largest bullring in the world, but many consider it to be the most beautiful.

The distinctive neo-Classical gleaming white façade with its clean geometric lines and Roman arches outlined in yellow ochre, its elaborately fashioned “Prince’s Gate” (which every matador dreams of exiting triumphantly on the shoulders of the crowd), the golden sand inside the ring, all conspire to make the Maestranza a monumental “plaza de toros” that has given wing to legend, film and theater.

Although the art or ritual of bullfighting might not be fully appreciated by much of the non-Hispanic world, we find evidence of the importance of the horned beast or bovine, considered the supreme god of nature, throughout all cultures of the world. The cave paintings of Altamira in northern Spain confirm the ancient ritual of the sacrifice of this beast in order to insure the survival of the community. It is interesting to note that the modern Spanish fighting bull is a direct descendent of these ancient bovines and would now be extinct if it were not for the bullfight.

In many parts of the world today, we have nothing to compare with this spectacle, so it is important to keep in mind that the Spanish fighting bull is a unique species, following his instincts in the ring to charge anything that moves, regardless of size or color. He has not been trained or manipulated.

He also lives a longer and better life than a steer raised solely to end his life in a slaughterhouse. The matador who confronts the bull is a participant in a drama which, when properly performed, will display the bravery of both man and bull. And the matador’s brush with death will often bring about a catharsis in the public, a sense of renewed appreciation for life which will transcend any particular moment in the plaza.

Even if there are no bullfights taking place, you can visit the museum in the Plaza de Toros that displays matadors’ costumes, bullfight posters and original works of art with taurine themes, including a parade cape painted by Picasso. As part of your visit, you can enter the ring and actually tread the golden sand, as so many famous matadors, such as Joselito, Belmonte, Manolete and Seville’s own Curro Romero have done. You may also visit the chapel where they have prayed before entering the ring and the infirmary where they may have spent some agonizing moments that are part and parcel of this “fiesta de los toros”.

Author: Juan Navarro, is a major tour agent in Seville Spain.

Tourists can get a look at time past as Seville presents a historic feel from its old and ancient structures.

Seville’s Monumental Sights

The streets of Seville are dotted with a blend of modern and ancient architecture, historic monuments and nature parks that are sure to cultivate cultural interests.

The city’s Cathedral stands on a site that was formerly a city mosque. It is acclaimed as the largest amongst the medieval and gothic cathedrals ever made. It has an intricately designed and extravagantly decorated interior. The Giralda Tower, which was then a minaret, leaves a mark of its Arabic influences.

The Reales Alcázares or the Alcázar was once a Moorish Palace. It was improved with a Mudéjar décor by Pedro I. The large beautifully preserved gardens reflect a combination of Arabic and Renaissance style and influence.

Located in the Guadalquivir River banks, the Torre del Orro in ancient times was part of the city wall and used as a watchtower and barricade. Now a place for the Naval Museum, it is also an entry point to the Arenal district, Seville’s bullfighting area.

The University of Sevilla echoes the old-fashioned baroque structures of the first European tobacco company, La Antigua Fabrica de Tabacos.

The Archive of the Indies displays the splendor of classical Spanish Renaissance artistry. Similarly, the Casa de Pilatos and the San Telmo Palace offers the distinct Renaissance architectural influence.

The Museum of Fine Arts in Convent de la Merced is hailed as one of Spain’s best museums. Works of famous artists like El Greco, Veláquez, and Leal and art paintings by Murillo can be viewed in this museum. It also hosts several religious relics and artifacts in the cathedral.

The Archeological Museum contains ancient Roman currencies and other significant treasure and rare oriental pieces. Also featuring other Roman artifacts is the Musuem de la Condesa de Librija.

The Flamenco Museum introduces tourists to the classic flamenco dance. It’s a must-see venue for every visitor in Seville. Flamenco aficionados can experience and be acquainted with this Andalusian culture.

Seville has several nature parks and gardens that add to the historic mood of the city. The Parque Maria Luisa’s landscape complements the surrounding structures’ antique setting. The Garden of Murillo and the Catalina de Ribera Gardens are nestled along the Alcázar walls. The Jardin Inglés, Jardin de los Poetas, Jardin de la Vega Inclan, Parque de los Principes, Parque del Alamillo, Parque Amante, are just few of the nature parks and gardens that tourists can visit.

Seville, Spain is definitely a destination for historic sight-seeing. There’s no other place where you get to see and experience the Andalusian culture at its best. Seville offers its old-age attractions preserved through time.

Seville is the seat of Andalucia’s government today, and it has always been one of Spain’s most important cities. In the sixteenth century Seville was the gateway to the Americas. The treasure ships would sail up the Guadalquivir river to unload their silver cargo, enriching Seville in the process. Even before this time, Seville was a major city in Moorish Spain, and it is to the Moors that Seville owes the Giralda tower, which dominates the city. Its ornate top is a later Renaissance addition to the original Muslim tower, once the minaret of Seville’s mosque. The mosque itself was replaced by Seville’s monumental Cathedral. This cathedral was intended to be so large “that everyone, on beholding it, will take us for madmen”! Today it is the third largest cathedral in the world after St. Peter’s in Rome and St. Paul’s in London.

Few visitors leave Seville without seeing the Alcazar. This stunning building reminds many of the Alhambra in Granada but it actually post-dates Muslim rule in Spain. Its exotic decoration is known as Mudejar –a fusion of Christian and Moorish style. Built by the appropriately-named King Pedro the Cruel of Castile, its magnificent rooms were later the headquarters of Spanish expeditions to the New World, and it still serves as a royal residence from time to time today. The Alcazar’s beautiful gardens are laid out in the Moorish style and are a wonderful place to stroll.

On the subject of gardens, there can be few more impressive in Europe than Seville’s Maria Luisa Park. Formerly the grounds of the Palacio de San Telmo, these lush green gardens are a wonderful oasis in which to escape from the summer heat. Exotic palms, cool streams, shaded paths and many quiet corners in which to sit make this a perfect refuge after a busy days’s sightseeing. You can also take a horse-drawn carriage ride around the park, which children adore, just as they also love a visit to Isla Magica, Andalucia’s largest theme park, situated on the other bank of the Guadalquivir.

Seville is probably best known among travellers for two events – the moving processions of Holy Week and the colourful festivities of the April Fair. Anyone wishing to attend these events should book well in advance and expect to pay a premium for their accommodation! During Holy Week, figures of Jesus and the Virgin Mary are carried through the streets of Seville by hooded members of the 59 brotherhoods in the city. Each brotherhood has its own image, and the right to carry the image is highly prized. The images inspire great emotion in the watching crowds. The mood lightens shortly afterward for the April Fair, a lively celebration of spring. The visitor can enjoy bullfights, equestrian shows, and parades of horse-drawn carriages carrying elegant Sevillian women in beautiful flamenco dresses. Truly a wonderful and memorable introduction to Seville!

Read more articles on Andalucia property, travel and food at our website Andalucia Coast and Country.

Copyright2007 Heather McMillan