Top Places I Visited in Seville
Seville is now the capital and largest city of the Spanish autonomous community of Andalusia and the province of Seville
With centuries of various civilizations that were instrumental in its growth, Seville has a distinct personality, and a large and well-preserved historical centre - keep reading to take a peek at some of my favorite spots!
Plaza de Espana
Measuring 50,000 square metres, the Plaza de Espana is the size of five football fields, and is worth a visit just to bask in its grand size. The Plaza gives you a tour of Spain's geography with 48 nooks with benches, one for each province of Spain, each with a relevant tableau and map, and all designed on colourful azulejos (painted ceramic tiles). There are also four bridges that represent the four ancient kingdoms of Spain: Castille, Aragon, Navarre and Leon. On a modern day cultural note, The Plaza has been used as a location for filming several movies, including Star Wars!
Cathedral of Seville
The Cathedral of Seville has gone through numerous religious transformations. Originally built as a mosque, it was eventually converted into the city's cathedral in order to suit Christian’s worship practices. According to local oral tradition, the members of the cathedral chapter said: "Hagamos una Iglesia tan hermosa y tan grandiosa que los que la vieren labrada nos tengan por locos" ("Let us build a church so beautiful and so grand that those who see it finished will take us for mad"). Christopher Columbus and his son Diego are also buried in the cathedral.
Standing in front of Christopher Columbus Tomb
Royal Alcázar of Seville
Royal Alcázar of Seville has been known as a cultural and political hub throughout the centuries, and is the oldest royal palace of Europe. The Royal Alcázar was under construction for 500 years, and the original designs are nowhere to be found. The palace is known for its tile decoration, and I can definitely see why. It is also surrounded by various vibrant gardens and orchards, with fruit trees and a wide variety of fragrant flowers. The garden-orchards used to supply food for the palace residents and had the aesthetic function of bringing pleasure. Of course, if you are a Game of Thrones nerd like me, you’ll love knowing that part of the fifth season of Game of Thrones was shot in several locations in Seville, including the Alcázar. Notice the details on the architecture and the hints of Arabic writing over some of the doorways.
Flamenco Show at El Palacio Andazluz
After a long day of exploring the city, I was especially excited to relax with some tapas and wine at the Flamenco Show at El Palacio Andazluz. Flamenco is an art form based on music traditions from the regions of Andalusia (where Seville is located!) and Murcia. The dancers were absolutely stunning, and there is something really special about enjoying Flamenco in the region it is from. Before the show you get an opportunity to stroll through the Flamenco museum full of costumes and the history of Flamenco.
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