Seville, Spain

We visited Seville in August of 2018 with our dear friend, Debra. We arrived via high speed train from Madrid and took a short taxi ride into the historic quarter, where our hotel was located. It was hot during our visit with temperatures ranging from 97-105 degrees. The city was also pretty crowded since August is the time of year that most Europeans take their vacation. Nevertheless, it was never crowded to the point of uncomfortableness.

WHAT TO SEE

Seville is known for many things, but it is most well-known for flamenco dancing. Any visit to Seville would not be complete without a visit to a flamenco show. There are plenty available in the historic quarter where most of the historical tourist attractions are located. The Gothic Seville Cathedral is the site of Christopher Columbus’s tomb. The solid silver tomb sits on the shoulders of four soldiers to honor Columbus’s request that he not be buried in Spain. Next to the Seville Cathedral is the Real Alcazar de Sevilla, a fortress built during the Moorish occupation of Seville. If you are a fan of Game of Thrones, you will immediately recognize this site as it has been used extensively throughout series episodes. A short walk from the Cathedral and Alcazar is the Torre del Oro. This tower sits along the banks of the Guadalquivir River and once acted as a trading post for the gold brought into Spain from the new world. Another site not to be missed is Plaza de Espana. It is a semi-circle shaped building built in 1928 for the Spanish-American Exposition. It is a wonderful spot to row a boat along its canal or catch an impromptu flamenco show by local artists and musicians. 

WHERE TO EAT

We found the Barrio Santa Cruz area to be a quiet retreat in the heart of Seville’s tourist district. It’s easy to get lost among the winding narrow pedestrian streets visiting tapas bars and restaurants. Make sure you try the Sangria! Every establishment has their own recipe and we never came across one that Debra didn’t love!

We enjoyed our visit to Seville very much. We will definitely be returning to explore more of this fascinating city.