History
Seville is the capital city if the autonomous community of Andalucia. The city’s origins stretch back to pre-Roman times when it went by the name of Hispalis. The Romans invaded the Iberian peninsular and renamed the city Romulensis. After the fall of the Roman Empire, the whole of Spain was fought over for many years. Finally, in 712AD, the Moors invaded the city and renamed it Ibliya. Around 130 years later, the Normans invaded the city and effectively destroyed everything the Muslims had built. Around the same time, the Phoenicians formed small settlements in the Guadalquivir River valley and it is thought that these also formed part of what is now known as Seville.
After several hundred years of turmoil and invasion, the city fell into Christian hands and a period of relative calm followed. In the 16th and 17th centuries it became a city of cultural, artistic and economic importance. Seville became the main Spanish port for trade with the Americas and, as a result, the city boomed and grew at a furious rate. Seville has been the venue if the World Expo in 1929 and 1992. The Plaza de Espana was erected for the first Expo and the iconic Alamillo Bridge was built for the second event.
Population
Seville is both the capital of the autonomous community of Andalucia and the province of Seville. Located on the banks of the Guadalquivir River, the city has over 700,000 inhabitants which equates to over half the population of the whole province. The river runs from the city to its outlet near Sanlucar de Barrameda on the Atlantic coast. This made the city hugely important for trade with the Americas.
Places to Visit
Walking around the city, it becomes quickly apparent that there is a blend of cultures represented by the city’s architecture and design. Medieval, Baroque, Arab and Renaissance influences are apparent all over Seville.
Casa de Pilatos – Built in the 15th and 16th century, this is an example of Mudejar architecture. The building is a majestic combination of marble floors, painted ceilings and Roman sculptures. The gardens and fountains are also an impressive sight and offer a pleasant location for a stroll in the sunshine.
Hospital de la Caridad and Monasterio de la Cartuja - Begun in 1625 by Miguel de Manara, this hospital and cathedral is full of impressive examples of Baroque architecture. There are paintings inside the building from Murillo and Valdes Leal.
Cartuja Monastry – Now home to art galleries, this Mudejar building was once a monastery of great importance, being visited by every monk that entered the city.
Museo del Baile Flamenco – The museum charts the humble beginnings of the traditional Spanish dance and uncovers the many forms it takes and locations it is performed in. The museum includes traditional flamenco dress, movies, photos and paintings.
Museo de Bellas Artes – This fine arts museum was a monastery until 1841 when it was transformed into a museum housing the works of Francisco Pacheco, Diego Velasquez and Alonso Cano. The museum displays the works of several more prominent Spanish artists.
Alcazar of Seville – This site has been occupied by Seville’s governors since the Roman Empire. Built by the Muslims in the 7th century, the Alcazar of Seville has been expanded on by subsequent rulers for hundreds of years. Home to several Spanish monarchs since the 1500s, the palace is set in beautiful gardens which can be explored.
Torro del Oro - Originally a Moorish fort, the ‘Tower of Gold’ overlooks the river Guadalquivir and was built in the 13th century. It is thought the tower was covered in golden tiles, imported from the New World. The tower has been fully restored and is now home to a maritime museum.
Santa Cruz – A former Jewish ghetto, Santa Cruz is a maze of gateways, alleyways and courtyards. Bathed in hundreds of years of history, the charming streets are full of flower-adorned balconies. This is a great place to spend the day exploring the ‘old’ Spain.
Cuisine
Seville’s rich cultural heritage has influenced the traditional cuisine found in the city. The olive oil from Jaen, sherry from Jerez de la Frontera and seafood from Cadiz are all prominent in the cuisine of the city. The tapas culture in Seville is amongst the most popular in all of Spain with tapas bars located throughout the city.
There are a number of local specialities that are unique to the province. Local dishes often include squid, cuttlefish, dogfish and swordfish. Spinach and chickpeas are also widely used in Andalucian cuisine as well as kidneys and snails. Jamon iberico or Andalucian ham is also a very popular regional food. The province is famed for its desserts all over Spain. Mantecados originate from the town of Estepa and are shortbread made with sugar and almonds. Pestinos are honey-coated fritters and torrijas are slices of fried bread, drizzled in honey. Other favourite desserts in the city include roscos fritos (doughnuts, covered in sugar) and magdalenas which are Spanish fairy cakes.
Famous for its oranges, Seville is the home of many traditional Spanish marmalades. The oranges that are local to the region are considered too bitter to eat and are used in preserves and for cooking. It is thought that orange trees were imported into Seville to provide shade for the Arabic mosque in the city and to cover the stench from the city. A word of warning – many people still insist on eating the oranges but they taste more like lemons!
Accommodation
Demand for hotel accommodation in Seville is huge during the spring months and Easter. Many of the hotels typically add a surcharge to room-rates so it is important to hunt around for the best rates and book well in advance. Most people visiting the city will want to stay in the centre, close to all of the attractions. There is a wide range of accommodation in the Barrio de Santa Cruz, which is within a few minutes of the cathedral and Alcazar. This area is home to some stunning hotels that are located in annexed houses and some of the ancient palaces of Seville. These traditional Spanish buildings offer the chance to stay in genuine historical surroundings with all the luxuries the top hotels have to offer.
There are still lots of budget options for those wanting to stay in Santa Cruz, however, car-parking is at a premium. There are also a wide range of hotels situated along the avenues at the site of the 1929 Expo.
Weather
Seville enjoys a typical Mediterranean climate with hot sunny summers and mild winters. August is the hottest month with average temperatures of around 30C although it can reach 40C on occasions. Seville does enjoy sea breezes that cool things down a little but visitors should be careful as this can sometimes mask the strength of the sun. Winter is generally mild compared with most of Europe with temperatures rarely dropping below 10C through the day. January is the coldest month and at night it can get as cold as 4 or 5C.
The autumn weather is very pleasant with warm sunshine, lots of blue skies and average temperatures in the mid 20Cs. However, most rain falls in the autumn but it usually falls in the form of intense showers and thunderstorms. These showers are usually immediately followed by more sunshine and blue skies. Spring, although busy, is the best time to travel to Seville as the weather is warm and dry but not too hot to be uncomfortable.
Transport
The airport is only 10km away from the city centre and is serviced by several scheduled and budget services every day. It is worth looking at flights into Malaga and Jerez de la Frontera as they can quite often be cheaper. Buses to the city centre from the airport leave every 30 minutes and cost 2.30 euros for a one-way trip. A taxi from the airport will cost around 20 euros and take 15 minutes. The city has had major investment in its public transport infrastructure in recent years and taxis are located at all the major locations in the city. The local bus and tram services cover all of the tourist atractions in Seville. However, getting around the main sites is possible on foot and a lot more fun!
