Seville Travel Guide

What

do and see in Seville

W H E R E D R E A M S T A K E F L I G H T to

THE VELVET RUNWAY S E V I L L E T R A V E L G U I D E

In this guide we will cover the best time of year to visit, the top attractions as well as where to stay We hope you enjoy it!

The historic city centre of Seville offers many attractions, such as the Real Alcázar, the cathedral and the Giralda Tower, and much more!

WELCOME!

The city of Seville (or Sevilla in Spanish) is the capital of the Spanish region and province of Andalusia and has almost 700,000 inhabitants, making Seville the fourth largest city in Spain (behind Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia).

Welcome to the Seville online travel guide, the first of our series of online travel guides!

After dusk head up to one of the rooftop bars, the Plaza d’España or the Metropol Parasol to catch a glimpse of the setting sun.

Visit in the Spring when the air is heavy with the scent of orange and lemon blossom, and the warm weather is just arriving. I was so inspired by the tiled patios and the scented courtyards that I bought 2 lemon trees when I came home, and I’m currently redesigning my own courtyard to include some ceramic tiles!

Here is my guide for what to do in Seville and why Seville should be on your travel bucket list.

3

The Velvet Runway

Andalusia’s capital is steeped in history with its ancient Moorish walls, Roman ruins, Renaissance architecture, Baroque churches and the world’s largest Gothic cathedral It’s renowned for its gypsy heroine, Carmen, the magic of flamenco and the sultry orange tree filled plazas.

Seville

Julia Rees

Contents The best time of year to visit Seville WHEN TO GO5 THE ALCAZAR10 SANTA CRUZ15 WHERE TO STAY AND WHERE TO EAT 31 VISIT THE MUSEUMS18 THE PLAZA DE ESPAÑA16 TRIANA20 THE METROPOL PARASOL23 THE TORRE DEL ORO25 RIVER CRUISE AND HORSEDRAWN CARRIAGE 26 FLAMENCO29 THE CATHEDRAL12 Our top ten tips for what to see and what to do WHAT TO DO9

S E V I L L E T R A V E L G U I D E 5

When to go

The best times of year to visit Seville : the three periods to visit Seville - high season, shoulder season and off season

WHEN TO VISIT SEVILLE

Seville has a Mediterranean climate with very hot summers and mild winters.

July and August can be stiflingly hot and you will find that the streets are deserted in the afternoon heat when the locals will be taking a "siesta"

Overall, Seville has three very different periods determined partly by the weather and partly by specific events that attract thousands of visitors

"The air soft as that of Seville in April, and so fragrant that it was delicious to breathe it"

Although it is good to visit Seville all year round , the ideal time to visit Seville is in spring when the city blooms with jasmine and orange tree blossoms During these months the temperatures are mild, the rush of tourist traffic hasn't reached summer volume and the hotels tend to offer lower rates (except during special events such as Holy Week and the Feria de Abril).

Fall and winter are also great seasons to visit Seville

In terms of weather, this is not the best time for visiting Seville, as it can simply be too hot, with temperatures often exceeding 35ºC (95ºF).

High Season : February to June

However, on the plus side there won’t be a lot of tourists wandering around, so you will probably avoid queues for the main monuments! Additionally, night life is good at this time of year as many events only start when it cools down!

Seville Weather

Shoulder season (September January)

The high season in Seville is marked by two very popular events: Holy Week (the Semana Santa) and the Feria de Abril.

Off season (July August)

The weather is still very warm, but there are less tourists which makes for a cheaper stay and more relaxing sightseeing!

That coupled with the warm weather and long days (thanks to daylight savings) make this one of the best times to visit Seville.

HANDMADE WITH LOVE AND EXCITEMENT

O M È

Unique and versatile jewelry pieces that will make you feel beautiful and special in any occasion. something you love"

ome ome.com

"Find

S E V I L L E T R A V E L G U I D E 9

Our top ten picks for visiting Seville: an overview of the top 10 attractions, including the Alcazar palace, the cathedral, the Plaza de España and other sights of Seville.

What to do

The Real Alcázar is a great place to start your visit to Seville This beautiful UNESCO listed palace complex is still in use by the Spanish royal family: their chambers, state rooms and halls are on the upper level (The Cuarto real Alto) and you can pay extra for a guided tour to visit them

.

Most of the complex is built in a Mujedar style, which was the style often used for Moorish buildings that were non Islamic.

It was originally developed as a fort in 913, but has been revamped many times over the years, most spectacularly in the 14th century when King Pedro added the ‘Palacio de Don Pedro’, which is still the jewel in the Alcázar’s crown The sumptuous gardens are also worth a visit, as you pass from beautiful courtyard to courtyard and there is a fun hedge maze (which is not as easy to find your way out of as it looks!)

Visit the Real Alcázar

One of the gardens’ most stunning features and the best place for a viewing point is the Galeria de Grutesco, a raised gallery with porticoes fashioned in the 16th century

PRICE: €11.50 IF YOU BUY A TICKET ON THE DAY, (FREE FOR THE LAST HOUR ON MONDAYS)

In summer you can attend an outdoor night time concert at the Alcázar, and it’s a truly magical experience with the grutesco stone wall as a backdrop, moonlight streaming through the palm trees and the beautiful sounds of classical music wafting across the air

RECOMMENDED VISIT: 2 3 HOURS

If it looks a little familiar, then you may have seen it as the Water Gardens of Dorne in ‘Game of Thrones’.

There are often long queues so you may want to book your ticket in advance, but if you are willing to wait a while, then entry is free on Monday afternoon

Click on the image opposite to book your ticket

HOURS: OCTOBER TO MARCH: 9:30AM 5PM, APRIL TO SEPTEMBER UNTIL 7PM

12

Seville's cathedral is said to be the third largest cathedral in the world and the world’s largest Gothic cathedral.

N O M A D I C | 2

Visit the tomb of Christopher Columbus and climb up the Giralda for spectacular views

It was built between 1434 and 1517, over the remains of what had previously been the city’s main mosque and you can still see traces of the mosque that once stood there, especially in the Court of the Orange trees to the north side of the cathedral, where worshippers would wash their hands and feet in the fountains here before their five daily prayer sessions

PRICE: ADULTS €9, CHILDREN €4 ADMISSION FREE FOR DISABLED PERSONS AND FREE ENTRANCE ON MONDAY’S FROM 4:30PM 6:00PM RECOMMENDED VISIT: 2 HOURS BOOK HERE

Its sheer size is awe inspiring with a central nave that rises to an incredible 42 metres and 80 side chapels, each of which seem tall enough to contain an ordinary church. The total area covers 11,520 m2

Below are the “regular” visiting hours However, these can be modified without notice to accommodate religious services The price and recommended time includes entry to the Giralda.

There are regular archaeological exhibits on the way up, and the views from the top are well worth the effort (just take some comfy shoes, as it’s still quite a walk up!)

HOURS : MONDAY: 11:00AM TO 3:30PM AND 4:30PM TO 6:00PM

Don’t miss the tomb of Christopher Columbus and then be sure to climb up the Giralda bell tower, which was formerly the minaret of the mosque You can purchase a combined ticket for entrance to both the cathedral and the bell tower

TUESDAY TO SATURDAY: 11AM TO 5PM SUNDAY FROM 2:30PM TO 6PM

The unusual thing about the tower is that it has no stairs! Instead, 34 ramps lead to the top Apparently, It was designed like this so that the Muezzin (who led the call to prayer) could ride his horse up the tower instead of walking

@YGCollection

YG

COLLECTION

MEANINGFUL PIECES MADE TO LAST A LIFETIME.

Pieces that sculpt and accentuate your body in all the right places, a fit that looks like it's made just for you.

"timeless pieces that will live in your closet forever"

If you want to escape the city heat and noise head to the” Jardines de Murillo”, located on the eastern edge of the neighborhood just beyond the more popular Alcázar gardens, and relax under a shady tree.

Wander through the Santa Cruz quarter

However, it’s also worth just wandering around this neighbourhood , which is a maze of narrow streets and alleys, where you can explore and enjoy one of the many (touristy) restaurants or attractive squares

The Santa Cruz district is the former Jewish quarter of Seville, and home to some of the key tourist attractions, such as the Alcazar Palace and the Giralda Tower.

It originally belonged to the nearby San Telmo Palace, which dates back to the 1500s In the late 19th century the grounds were donated to the city by Infanta Luisa Fernanda and took their present shape after a remodel in 1911.

Stroll around the Maria Luisa park and visit the iconic Plaza de España

N O M A D I C | 2 4

Maria Luisa Park is the largest green space in central Seville and the perfect place to escape the hustle and bustle of the city centre, with its shady tree lined paths, duck ponds and landscaped gardens.

HOURS: OPEN FROM 8:00 AM TO 10:00 PM IN THE WINTER, MIDNIGHT IN SUMMER RECOMMENDED VISIT: 2 3 HOURS

PRICE: FREE

At the entrance to the park you will find the iconic Plaza de España, which is perhaps one of the best known landmarks of Seville and the architecture is jaw dropping!

It was built for the Ibero American Exposition in 1929 and it’s a photographer’s and Instagrammer’s dream, with its wide plaza, edged by a canal, colourful ceramic tiles and beautiful flowers, all overlooked by an immense curved palace. Lookout for the statue of architect Aníbal González, gazing at his creation

Walk along the gallery, where you will see busts of some of the important national figures, but also as a series of painted ceramic tile panels which depict maps, and details such as local food and famous monuments from each Spanish province Nowadays, the palace contains many of the city’s administrative buildings.

Visit one of the many museums for a cultural experience

Apart from being an oasis of calm in the centre of Seville and home to the Plaza de España , the most flamboyant of the buildings completed for the 1929 expo, the 34 hectare María Luisa Park is also home to several of the city’s museums.

The archaeological museum in the south of the park has some wonderful Roman sculptures, mosaics and statues many of which came from the archaeological site of Itálica just outside Seville

Like the Plaza de España it was built for the Ibero American Exposition, and also houses artefacts from Phoenician and Tartessian cultures

BOTH MUSEUMS:

PRICE: FREE FOR EU RESIDENTS, €1.50 FOR THE REST OF THE WORLD

Museum of Arts and Traditions

Here you’ll see everyday items from throughout Seville’s history, including ceramics from the 16th century and large displays of swords and knives forged in the city.

This museum covering Seville’s traditional customs, costumes and traditions was also built for the exposition and is housed in the Mudejar Pavillion, just opposite the archaeological museum

One section leads you through the various workshops relating to Seville’s historic trades, such as tile making, metalwork, lacework and barrel making for the local sherry.

Like many other “left bank” areas (such as Saint Germain in Paris, Trastevere in Rome, Brooklyn in New York) Triana is well worth a visit. It’s a small lively neighbourhood, teeming with a gypsy spirit, flamenco flair, stunning ceramics and some of the best tapas in town.

As soon as you cross the river (probably by taking the Isabel II bridge from the main part of town), you will find yourself in a different world.

Wander across to Triana on the left bank

Most people leave Triana off their Seville itinerary there isn’t much by way of museums or grandiose churches, and it’s across the other side of the ‘Guadalquivir’ river from most of the city’s main tourist attractions But what this historic neighborhood lacks in monuments, it more than makes up for in ‘ambiance’

It’s also one of the best areas to experience flamenco and is renowned for its tapas.

If you only buy one thing while exploring the Triana neighborhood in Seville, make it something ceramic, as this area is home to some of the city’s last remaining authentic ceramic manufacturers.

Don’t miss the delicious sights, smells and sounds of Triana Market, full of fresh, local produce. Still very much a local’s market, it was built on top of the ruins of the Castillo de San Jorge, the onetime headquarters of the Spanish Inquisition, where those believed to be heretics were tried, imprisoned, and burned at the stake. (You can check out the adjacent museum if you’re interested in learning more about this period of Spanish history.)

N O M A D I C

CLUB LONDON Make it an occasion to remember!

www Clubllondon us

"Expertly designed and crafted in house

Accessible luxury, unique designs and unrivalled quality, made to flatter every figure.

L

For a complete change of architectural style, head to the Metropol Parasol, known locally as “Las Setas” (“The Mushrooms”), which is one of Seville’s newest iconic landmarks in the Plaza de la Encarnación

Wander up to the Metropol Parasol where the past, present and future intertwine

It was built in 2011 to a design by German architect Jürgen Mayer H, and the Roman and Moorish ruins that were unearthed during the excavation of the plaza were cleverly incorporated into the Parasol’s foundations

N O M A D I C |

HOURS: 10AM 10:30PM (11:00PM ON FRIDAY AND SATURDAY)

RECOMMEND VISIT: 1 2 HOURS

You can take the lift up through the trunks of the treelike parasols to observation decks with killer views of the city

Modern glass bridges now let you peer down on the excavated foundations of a first century Roman enclave and the remains of a 13th century Moorish house. Six gigantic ‘parasols’ soar about 30m above the plaza and resemble a cluster of giant mushrooms, hence their nickname.

It houses a lively food market, the Mercado de la Encarnación, several cafes and tapas bars, and Plaza Mayor, a space designed to host open air events, concerts and flamenco festivals

As Mayer H. says of his creation, “It’s about the past, the present, and the future.”

PRICE: €3 (CHILDREN UNDER 5 AND RESIDENTS OF SEVILLE FREE)

24

Stroll along the right bank and visit the Torre del Oro

As you cross back over the Isabel Bridge you can set off on a very enjoyable riverside walk towards the “Torre del Oro” You can walk pretty much the whole way along the river bank, taking a quick detour off the riverside to see the Plaza de Toros, the 250 year old bullfighting arena.

Then you will come to the “Torre del Oro”, or “The Gold Tower”; the watchtower erected in the 13th century and now housing a maritime museum. It is worth a visit, and from the top of the tower, you can get a great view over Seville

HOURS

ADMISSION FREE FOR DISABLED PERSONS FREE ENTRANCE ON MONDAY’S RECOMMENDED VISIT: 1 HOUR

PRICE: ADULTS €3, CHILDREN €1,50

MONDAY TO FRIDAY : 9:30AM TO 6:45PM, WEEKENDS FROM 10:30AM

HOURS:

The Plaza del Toro is also the place to pick up a cruise on the river, with departures every 30 minutes.

Take a riverboat cruise or a trip in a horse drawn carriage.

A river cruise is a great way to get a feel for Seville and an excellent introduction to the city Book a one hour cruise here FROM 11AM 11PM AND CRUISES LAST 1 HOUR TICKETS START FROM €12 50 DEPENDING ON WHICH OPERATOR YOU USE RECOMMEND VISIT: 1 HOUR

PRICE:

N O M A D 4

A ride in one of the many ornate horse drawn carriages is also one of the iconic things to do in Seville, and there are two main places where you can do this.

The first is in the heart of the city between the Seville Cathedral and the Real Alcazár. Here you can hop in and be taken for a tour of the key city sites.

Alternatively, if you would prefer to get away from the traffic, you can also take a ride in Maria Luisa Park, where you can hop in at the Plaza de España. You can pre book here

Heiress Heiress

High quality fabrics and a fit so good that it feels custom made, just for you.

A for women, by women, luxury clothing brand which embodies slow fashion.

Perfect for every occasion

www.heiressbeverlyhills.com

BEVERLY HILLS

Andalusia is often referred to as the birthplace of flamenco, so where better to take in a flamenco show? There are many shows throughout the city, although Triana is considered to be one of the best areas to watch a show

Take in a traditional flamenco show

If you want to learn more about this passionate expression of song, dance, and music then I recommend a visit to the Flamenco Dance Museum. Book a show with optional museum entrance here.

HOURS: MOST FLAMENCO SHOWS IN SEVILLE HOLD TWO (OR SOMETIMES 3) SHOWS STARTING FROM AROUND 7PM PRICE: TICKETS START FROM AROUND €18 DEPENDING ON WHEN AND WHERE YOU GO. BOOK HERE

And of course, no visit to Seville would be complete without a visit to a Flamenco show.

www.belladescanso.com

Bella Descanso

From sleep to street : Feel timeless and fabulous in elegant pieces, designed to take you to faraway places! The sleepwear and accessories collection of your dreams.

S E V I L L E T R A V E L G U I D E 31

Where to stay and where to eat

Our top picks for where to stay and where to eat in Seville

Where to stay

Seville has a wide range of budget hotels, luxury hotels and B & B's.

As an alternative, you can also choose the Triana district, which has a more local flavour. Have a look here for some places to stay

For a successful city trip, I recommend that you stay in or close to the historic centre of Seville, so that all the key sights and monuments are within walking distance.

N O M A D I C |

Meanwhile, the hotel’s Justa Rufina restaurant which is part of Azotea Grupo and overseen by Chef Manuel Berganza, includes a terrace on street level, a restaurant on the ground floor and a roof top terrace offering a relaxed cocktail bar and spectacular views.

Located in the heart of Seville and on the doorstep of royal palaces, theaters and museums, the five star hotel proudly presents innovative Spanish cuisine by Michelin star chef Eneko Atxa and chef Manuel Berganza.

This is Radisson Hotel Group’s first Radisson Collection hotel in the country.

Set on a palm tree lined, pedestrian square, Radisson Collection Hotel, Magdalena Plaza Sevilla opened its doors to welcome the exceptional to Spain in September 2021

Magdalena Plaza Sevilla

Renowned Chef Eneko Atxa, who has been awarded five Michelin stars, has brought his Basque Eneko concept to the hotel with his informal cuisine, based on traditional Basque recipes with local touches

On the walls, black and white photographs of Seville have been curated to celebrate the architecture and urban life of the city

Bathrooms feature round mirrors and a custom designed vanity by the architects

Radisson Collection Hotel, Magdalena Plaza

A Radisson Collection Hotel

Sevilla has 89 rooms, including five suites two of them being penthouse suites with private spacious terraces and spectacular views.

The Magdalena Plaza hotel is part of Radisson Hotel Group’s ambitious growth plan in Spain and the Group’s first hotel opening in Spain under the Radisson Collection brand, renowned for offering exceptional service and guest experiences

The calm and refined design approach draws inspiration from the area’s rich history and Seville’s mix of traditional architectural styles The overall impression is contemporary but respects traditional rhythm and proportions.

The 89 rooms and suites are designed to be restful and stylish. The refined palette of bronze fittings, translucent glass, marble and parquet floors is accented by soft blue furnishings

.

Or you can walk (back) across the Isabel II bridge to Triana, where you can mingle with the locals and where the choice and value for money is incredible!

N O M A D I C | 2 4

Where to eat

If you take a walk down some of the narrow streets in Santa Cruz, you will find yourself in small, quaint plazas where you can soak up the atmosphere and choose from a wide range of tapas dishes.

.

Although there are plenty of bars and restaurants offering tapas, I would recommend one of the smaller bars of Santa Cruz or the Triana neighbourhood.

I hope you find this guide to Seville helpful. Don't forget to visit The Velvet Runway for more travel guides and tips. Happy travelling! Julia x thevelvetrunwaycom julia@thevelvetrunway.com Copyright ©2022 Julia Rees / The Velvet Runway All rights reserved

No part of this guide may be reproduced or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission.

Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook

Articles inside

Seville Travel Guide

1min

pages 1, 10