Seville is a unique existence in Spain that is located in the southwestern part of the Iberian Peninsula of Spain, near the southernmost part of the European continent and close to North Africa. So here is a mix of folk customs and culture of Europe, Africa, Asia and other regions. Seville is a city full of power and color. The ripe citrus hanging on the verdant treetops lazily, the old sandstone buildings with mosaic tiles, the marinated olives and the tempting red wines form the colorful tones of Seville. Seville is not only the place where “Don Juan” and “Carmen” took place but also the largest center of the art, culture and finance in southwestern Spain.
1. Spain Square
The Spain Square designed and built by Sevilla architect Aníbal González is located on the edge of Maria Luisa Park, which is a 200-meter-diameter semicircular square surrounded by three buildings. It was originally for the 1929 Ibero-American exhibition. There is a Romanesque fountain in the center of the square. There is a red brick building with a gallery. The two towers at the two ends of the arc are the commanding heights of the square, and several undulating towers in the middle are open to public. Outside the square are sparse woods and wooded trails where carriages of red or yellow wheels stop. If you are interested in archaeological or folklore in Seville, you can also visit the Archaeological Museum and the Folklore Museum that were converted from the buildings on the square.
2. Seville Main Cathedral
The main church of Seville was originally a large mosque in Seville, which was later converted into a Catholic church. It was rebuilt in the fifteenth century as one of three largest cathedrals in the world with the St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican and St. Paul’s Cathedral in London. When the church was rebuilt, it referred to Gothic and Muslim styles. That’s why it is now a gorgeous and Andalusian-style church. The cathedral is divided into three parts, including the main building of the church, the orange orchard covered with yellow big oranges and the Giralda bell tower. There are a number of exhibition halls in the church including the main altar and the main hall of the Columbus tomb, the portrait exhibition hall, the sacred room with the key to Seville, the oval hall and so on. The entire corridor of the church twists and turns, you will often see another amazing view in a casual corner.
3. Seville Royal Palace
The Royal Palace of Seville is the oldest royal palace in Europe and was chosen as a World Heritage Site in 1987. The palace was built in the Middle Ages and first was as a Moorish castle, and later it was a blend of Islamic, Christian and Gothic styles, which reflects the architectural style of the Andalucía region. The Palace of Pedro I, the Palace of Carlos V and the Atrium of the Girl are all worth seeing. In addition to the building, the palace’s garden is also a mixture of Arabic and Gothic styles, which is very worth seeing. Here is also the location of the palace courtyard of the Martel family in Dorn in the TV series “Game of Thrones”.
4. Sanctuary of Seville Main Cathedral
The sanctuary of Seville Cathedral that is the annex building of Seville Cathedral was completed in 1543. The arched entrance is fancy and engraved with a safe. The interior of the sanctuary is the most beautiful in the cathedral. The sacred room displays a variety of precious jewels, vestments, hymns, choirs, and other religious treasures such as religious works and paintings. There are various sacred objects such as relic box, gold and silverware and other exhibits in the main sacred room. The most precious is a 7.8-meter-high holy with 15 candelabra decorated with intricate patterns.
5. Giralda Tower
One of Seville’s landmarks, this 97.5-meter-high building can be seen anywhere in the city. The tower of strong Islamic style was built by the Islamist Ashedad family at the end of the 12th century. The 28 clocks at the top of the tower can still be used for giving the time for the Seville residents with beautiful sounds. The 70-meter-high observation deck is a great place to look out over the city of Seville. There is a statue on the top of the bell tower called El Giraldillo that stands for faith. There are slopes instead of stairs for reaching to the top of the clock tower because the evangelists and others can ride the horses to the top of the tower.
6. Holy Cross Quarter
The Holy Cross Quarter is next to the Royal Palace of Seville and is the old town of Seville. It is also known as the Old Jewish Quarter, because the King of Fernando III gathered Jews after capturing Seville in the thirteenth century. Jews were expelled in the mid-fifteenth century and then the area is mostly inhabited by the rich. Now you can still see the buildings that retain the antique style, as well as many very special restaurants and small shops in the alleys of the Santa Croce area. The Holy Cross is made up of narrow alleys, which is the wisdom of the Jews. They built such alleys to escape the strong sun in summer and then a flow is formed in the winding alleys. You can see a 17th-century red wooden cross on the Santa Teresa Street where the Murillo Museum and the Garmore Monastery are located.
7. Seville Bullring
The disc-shaped building on the banks of the Guadalquivir is Spain’s most prestigious bullfighting site. Both the exterior and the interior of the building are full of strong color block. The most normal colors of red, yellow and white make up this great place. It seems to be filled with passionate shouts and rich flavors even though there is no bullfighting competition. Among the color blocks of the Bullfighting Square building, the yellow sand mixed with the blood of the bulls and the bullfighters is the inheritance of this place; the red wall represents the anger of the bull and the excitement of the bullfighter.
8. Metropol Parasol
The Metropol Parasol is in the center of the old town. This stunning landmark is like a huge mushroom cloud that float lightly on the square. It’s the largest timber-framed building in the world with a height of 28.5 meters and the latest environmentally friendly wood and technology. It took five years to complete the great building. The underground is a museum that displays the Roman and Moorish ruins found here. There is still market at the first floor and it continues to serve the daily lives of local people. The second and third floors are served for leisure and business services with panoramic terraces and restaurants.
9. Maria Luisa Park
Maria Luisa Park is the main green area of Seville. Most of the land in Maria Luisa Park was originally the garden of the San Telmo Palace. In 1893, the Duchess donated to the city of Seville as a public park. The park is full of tropical flair and the layout of the plants is carefully planned. The fountains and architectural styles reflect the traces of the occupation of Arab.
10. Golden Tower
The Golden Tower is a twelve-sided military watchtower built in the 13th century Muwahid dynasty to control the waterways from Guadalquivir and to Seville. The tower provided security for those who brought back the precious metals for the Spanish treasure fleet from the Americas on a regular basis. A large chain of iron is pulled from the bottom of the golden tower to block the river. Today the Golden Tower has been restored and is currently used as a naval museum containing prints, letters, models, tools and historical archives. The museum outlines the history of Seville’s navy and the importance of this river. The Golden Tower appeared in Century Empire II and Century Empire III.
