Seville Travel Guide

Seville is a wonderful city to simply wander around, with densely packed narrow streets and squares, and seemingly, a church at every turn.

Plaza de San Francisco

This was once the site of public burnings by the Inquisition. It has been Seville's main square since the 16th century. The City Hall, at the southern end is covered in magnificent carving. The new tram service now crosses the square.

Barri Santa Cruz

The most fascinating part of Seville, and the ideal place to stay near the main attractions - the Cathedral, Giralda and the Alcázar. Just don't try driving in the area's narrow streets unless you really know your way around!

Just wandering the streets of the Barri Santa Cruz is an ideal way to get the atmosphere of Seville. Small, specialist shops compete with the big retailers, while every turn seems to reveal an interesting church facade. Many of these parish churches are closed for much of the day but you might get in early in the morning or during the evening.

There are many fine patios where families spend much of the summer - try the Casa de Pilatos, at Plaza de Pilatos 1, named because it's said to be based on Pontius Pilate's house in Jerusalem. The Medinaceli family still live there, a fine example of stylish life in Seville.

The Plaza del Salvador, just north of the shopping street Sierpes, is dominated by the Iglesia San Salvador, and is one of the prettiest squares in the city. Its bars are popular, and there's decent tapas to be had.

Just by the Cathedral is the Archivo de las Indias, open Monday to Friday from 10am - 1pm. It's free and contains Imperial Spain's documents relating to the Americas, including the logbook of Christopher Columbus. The building was once the city's stock exchange.

Seville by the river

The Guadalquivir is one of the great rivers of Spain and was a key factor in the growth of Seville. It was from here that ships sailed to the Americas. The returning wealth was said to have been stored at the river-side Torre del Oro, or 'Tower of Gold'. Built in 1220, it was part of Seville's fortifications. It now houses the Naval Museum.

Nearby is the Maestranza bullring, one of the most important in Spain. There are guided tours and a small shop and exhibition. It was the setting for the final scene of the opera Carmen.

There are numerous cruises available on the river, normally lasting an hour with boats departing every 30 minutes. Pedal boats can be hired.

Seville Triana

Triana, on the opposite bank of the Guadalquivir, has a selection of restaurants and tapas bars and was once famous for the Flamenco families that lived here but are now scattered around the city. The tour buses run over to this side of the river, the scene of most of the Expo activity in 1992. Much has been converted to commercial sites while other parts have a slightly rundown atmosphere.

Two Triana highlights, however, are the Santa Ana ceramics factory, still producing hand-painted tiles, and the Isla Mágica, a large amusement park with rides, much of it themed on 16th century Spain.