Seville is the great city of the south of Spain - the home of Don Juan, Carmen and Figaro, of orange blossom and jasmine and a blazing sun beating down on brilliant white buildings and lush green patios. The city is quintessiantially Andalucian and is packed with narrow winding lanes and the best nightlife in southern Spain.
Many city breaks to Seville are combined with trips to the other great Andalucian sights, in Granada and Córdoba. All have a wealth of history and together give a wonderful insight into the Spanish south. But of the three, Seville has the reputation for its intensity of life, with great festivals and an operatic tradition second to none. It is also home to world-famous traditions such as bullfighting and flamenco.
Add in the three great buildings of Seville - the Cathedral, Giralda Tower and the Alcázar - and this is a city that will both entertain and bewitch. The Cathedral is said to be the largest in the world - depending on how you measure cathedrals! Its altarpiece is certainly the world's most impressive.
The Giralda Tower was the world's tallest building when built by the Moors, and the Alcázar and its gardens are a brilliant blend of the two cultures - Christian and Moor - that have shaped the city.
Seville combines ancient and modern with great style. The Festival of the Americas in 1929 and the Expo of 1992 produced imposing new buildings, bridges and transport facilities. The new tram and metro system looks impressive.
The city has its problems - bag snatching and drug crime are commonplace - although worse may be found in both Madrid and Barcelona. Violent crime is less common than in many north European cities.
Whilst being modernised and cleaned-up, Seville is still essentially a romantic old city - whether enjoying tapas under the stars, sipping chilled fino sherry on a flower-filled patio, strolling the Guadalquivir or indulging in a horse-drawn carriage ride.
Seville, the fourth largest city in Spain, is now easier to reach with budget flights and an excellent train service from Madrid. It's a destination well worth considering for a winter break, or in spring and autumn when temperatures are ideal. It is, however, Europe's hottest city, and Seville city breaks in mid-summer may best be avoided.
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