Seville celebrates the most dramatic and moving Semana Santa

Seville or ‘Sevilla’ is the capital of Andalucía and lies on the banks of the Guadalquivir. It is one of the largest historical centres in Europe. It is also the city to visit if you want to savor the Andalucian way of life in its purest form, it is a fantastic city for sightseeing as it combines the atmosphere of old Spain with a twist of modernity. Seville celebrates the most dramatic and moving Semana Santa (Easter Week) and the most frivolous and exciting annual feria (fair) that takes place in April. If you are booking a city break to immerse yourself in the history and culture of a city, then Seville will intrigue you. According to legend, Hercules, the famous Greek hero, founded Seville. Then when the Romans came to Spain, it was given the Latin name of Hispalis under the Romans and when the Arab Moors invaded Spain, it was renamed Isbiliya and you can see their influence throughout the city. The city has a remarkable abundance of beautiful and historic architecture and as the city has had an economic boost in recent years you will find it’s historic city centre in perfect condition: the minaret of La Giralda, the cathedral (one of the largest in Christendom) and the Alcázar Palace. Part of its treasure also includes the Casa de Pilatos, Torre del Oro, the Town Hall, the Archive of the Indies (where the historical records of the American continent are kept) and the Fine Arts Museum (the second largest picture gallery in Spain), plus convents, parish churches and palaces galore. Seville has managed to keep the historic city centre free of traffic with only horse & carriage, trams and bicycles allowed through the centre, which retains the city’s aged charm. It’s also home to the two bastions of Andalucian culture – Bullfighting and Flamenco. Cross over the river away from the city centre and you find yourself in the La Triana quarter; here countless artists, bull fighters and flamenco artists, both past and present were born and lived here. It was the old ‘Gitano’ gypsy quarter until the 1950s and is considered the spiritual heart of Flamenco. See our holiday apartments in Seville.

The Cathedral

In the heart of Seville you will find the breathtaking Cathedral which was build in 1401. The Cathedral is today the biggest tourist attraction of Seville and you can’t go to Seville without visit the Cathedral. ”Giralda” is the name of the tower and the trademark of the city and are you fit we can recommend you to go to the top of the tower – there is a magnificent view from there. The cathedral is one of the worlds largest and contains 5 ships and 25 chapels and is impressively good condition. It also contains the remains of the famous explorer Christopher Columbus.

Plaza de España

Plaza de España is situated very close to the city centre and is something you have to visit. It was constructed in 1929 to hold the EXPO exhibition. You will find the beautiful Palacio España with two towers which is inspired by Giralda. The building is beautifully maintained and gives a good sense of Spain’s wealth and former world domination.

Parque Marìa Luisa

This beautiful park is an extension of the Plaza de España and is extremely beautiful and charming. The park contains several beautiful buildings, monuments, fountains, ponds and many other attractions. On Sunday the park is the hangout for many families who use the park’s beautiful surroundings. You can rent bicycles in the park and we can warmly recommend a family ride on a bicycle with room for 6 persons.

Bullfighting Arena

Many people have their own opinion about bullfighting – good or bad – but even if you don’t like it you can easily see and experience the bullfighting arena. There are daily guided tours where you can experience both the arena and the museum with many of the city’s major bullfighters. If you want to see a bullfight, there are opportunities for this as there is often held bullfights. If you wish to experience the tradition, it can be recommended for the Fairy in April. The bullfight arena is located in the city center near the river.

Torre del Oro

The Gold Tower is situated by the river and is constructed in the 13th century as a military watchtower to protect the city against intrusion of the enemy. The tower has also been used as a prison and storage of different kind of treasures brought to the city by people such as Christopher Columbus from Spain’s former colonies. Today the tower operates as a museum.

The River

Guadalquivir runs through the beautiful city and separates the city in two parts. On one side lies the city with the historic center and on the other, you will find the area Triana. There are several bridges which can be crossed on foot, bicycle or by car. On the river it is possible to take a cruise with one of the many boats and see the city from another side or in the evening there is a chance to see flamenco on board on one of these boats. Down to the river you will find many small restaurants where to enjoy a cup of coffee or a cold beer in the lovely climate.

The Feria

The Fairy is held every year in April and this may best the part of the year to visit Seville – because of both the Fairy and the lovely clime. The whole city is decorated for this event and you can see the locals in their beautiful national costumes. The streets are filled with happy people, children playing everywhere and the bars and restaurants are filled to bursting point. Do you have the chance to go – don’t miss it.

Semana Santa

It is said that Easter is experienced best in Seville and there may be something about. Like all other places in Andalusia Easter is a highlight of the year and with Seville as the capital of Andalusia, it is natural that it also is here you can experience the largest and most powerful thrones. As throughout Andalusia, there are hundreds of men bearing large impressive thrones to symbols of Jesus’ crucifixion.

Soccer

The city has two football clubs in Spain’s best league – Betis Sevilla and Sevilla FC and the last mentioned belongs in Europe’s top and has recent years won two European titles in the UEFA Cup. Sevilla FC is almost every year in the top of the Spanish league, while the little brother usually fights at the other end. Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan is Sevilla FC’s home ground and is situated near the city center and we can recommend you to see a match here – as this is the place where you can experience the great Spanish atmosphere.