According to legend, Sevilla was founded by Hercules and its origins are linked with the Tartessian civilisation.
It was called Hispalis under the Romans and Isbiliya with the Moors. Its high point in its history was following
the discovery of America. Sevilla lies on the banks of the Guadalquivir and is one of the largest historical
centres in Europe, it has the minaret of La Giralda, the cathedral (one of the largest in Christendom),
and the Alcázar Palace. Part of its treasure include Casa de Pilatos, Torre del Oro, the Town Hall,
Archive of the Indies (where the historical records of the American continent are kept), the Fine Arts Museum
(the second largest picture gallery in Spain) , plus convents, parish churches and palaces.
It has hosted two international exhibitions (1929 and 1992) and is the administrative capital of Andalucia.
The quarter of Triana on the other side of the river, La Macarena, Santa Cruz and San Bartolomé, the street
of Las Sierpes, plus La Maestranza bullring, María Luisa park and the riverside walks are all representative
images of Sevilla. For all its important monuments and fascinating history, Sevilla is universally famous
for being a joyous town. While the Sevillanos are known for their wit and sparkle, the city itself is striking
for its vitality. It is the largest town in Southern Spain, the city of Carmen, Don Juan and Figaro.
The Sevillanos are great actors and put on an extraordinary performance at their annual Fería de Abril,
a week-long party of drink, food and dance which takes place day and night in more than a thousand especially
mounted tents. But above all it allows the men to parade on their fine horses and the women to dance in
brilliantly coloured gypsy dresses.
Immediately before that is Holy Week, Semana Santa, a religious festival
where hooded penitents march In long processions followed by huge baroque floats on which sit Images of the
Virgin or Christ, surrounded by cheerful crowds. Both spring events are well worth experiencing.
In Sevilla, you will want to visit the old city, with the Cathedral and the Giralda tower at its heart.
(You can climb the steps inside the tower for a magnificent view of the City). Very close by are the royal
Mudéjar palace known as the Alcazar with marvellous gardens and the Santa Cruz quarter, with cramped streets,
flowered balconies, richly decorated facades, hidden patios... Other sights not to be missed are, in the old city,
the Casa de Pilatos, a large sixteenth-century mansion where Mudejar, Gothic and Renaissance styles blend
harmoniously amidst exuberant patios and gardens and, crossing the Triana bridge over the large Guadalquívir River,
the lively popular quarter of Triana with charming narrow streets around the church of Santa Ana and traditional
ceramic factories.
Don's miss out on the Tapas! The city of 700,000 is credited with their invention and has more than a thousand
bars where the choice of food is virtually unlimited; from seafood to ham and sausage, from vegetable to cheese.
The Sevillanos actually make a meal of them, moving from bar to bar and trying one dish at a time!
The Junta de Andalucia finally passed a new law which will take away for up to five years the planning decisions from local Town Halls in the case of irregularities. Plans have also been announced to build a new motorway to link all of Andalucia in the next 3 years.
