Explore Seville, jewel of Andalucía

Jan 17, 2023 Lifestyle

The capital of the autonomous region of Andalucía and fourth largest city of Spain is one of the country’s – indeed Europe’s – finest historic gems. Claimed to have been founded by Hercules himself, Seville has a seductively rich historic tradition that stretches from antiquity to modernity.

 

Approaching Seville is a pleasure regardless of the direction you’re coming from. The city lies in a little depression encircled by the peripheral highway that skirts attractive contemporary suburbs as the iconic sights of Seville come into view. Prominent among these is the famous Giralda, a former minaret converted to a church clocktower that accompanies the largest cathedral in the world. Seville cathedral is also the spot where Christopher Columbus was laid to rest, and you’ll find other notables near his impressive tomb.

 

Surrounding this epicentre of the city is a maze of pretty cobbled streets and squares literally dotted with restaurants, cafés, tapas bars and such unique spots as Turkish Baths and monuments such as the Archivo de Indias, a museum that offers a welcome respite from the summer sun. Spring is when the city centre abounds in orange blossom, and also the most popular time to visit, but summer guests can take a river cruise to cool off in style, as the Guadalquivir River creates a wonderfully atmospheric setting as it gently flows past icons such as the La Maestranza bullring, the riverside Torre de Oro and the old cigar factory described in the opera Barber of Seville.

 

The cathedral is a UNESCO World Heritage site, but this scenic city, which has featured in movies as diverse as Star Wars, Lawrence of Arabia, Game of Thrones, Knight & Day and Mission Impossible, can boast of many spectacular sites, including the Plaza de España and the modern Metropole Parasol, the largest wooden structure in the world.

 

Did you know that the birthplace of flamenco also has its very own secret code, NO8DO, which means to say that ‘it’ (Seville) has not left me? – and indeed, this beautiful city will linger in your thoughts long after leaving it.