THE SIGHTS OF SEVILLA

Welcome to the city of Seville. 

As there are people much more specialistic in the historic heritage of Seville than we are, here under we hand you the official website of tourism of Seville. 

It is very good and complete and does not only give you the information about monuments, museums and the other interesting sights of Sevilla but also here you can find the events that are taking place in the city. 
It shows you schedules, opening hours, phone numbers and everything else you need to know,

                                   www.visitasevilla.es

To have a quick start we made a selection of our favourite places from this huge list How to find these places we advise to consult Google Maps. 

CATHEDRAL OF SEVILLE AND GIRALDA

One of our most beautiful monuments in the City is the magnificent Cathedral of Seville. It is the third largest church in the world.

The Cathedral and Giralda Tower were originally built as a Mosque by the Muslims. After the conquest of Sevilla by the Catholic King Ferdinand III in November 1248 the Christians renovated the tower and added the highest part to the tower    (the Bell Tower) The right part of the Giralda is where the Muslim Mosque was originally. situated.

The building and the renovating of the tower and old mosque to become the present-day Catholic Cathedral started in the 15th Century around the year 1401 

THE ROYAL ALCAZAR

Another jewel of Seville is the Reyal Alcazar.

This palace was constructed for the Muslim Kings. After the reconquer of Sevilla by the Christians the palace was renovated and enlarged by the Christians. The Palace buildings are constructed in an incredibly beautiful park. Although it is situated in the Old Centre of Seville it is a nice and quiet place to have a walk and rest a little.

In the Summer Open Air Classic concerts are arranged in the park.

The present-day it is one of the palaces of the Spanish King. (We call it our small Alhambra)

SANTA CRUZ DISTRICT & HOSPITAL DE LOS VENERABLES

The Santa Cruz Area is just next to the Cathedral and Giralda. It is the old Jew district of Sevilla and you will enjoy walking around there finding some authentic tapas bars. Inside in the Santa Cruz District you will also find the Hospital de los Venerables.

This old hospital is not used as a hospital anymore but now serves as a museum where constantly exhibitions are arranged of famous Spanish painters.

PLAZA DE ESPAÑA & MARIA LUISA PARK

Plaza de España was the main and central square of the Ibero-American Expo celebrated in Seville in 1929. In front of the building between the two towers you will encounter some spectacular mosaic representing the provinces of Spain. 

After visiting Plaza de España you can have a nice walk in the Maria Luisa Park which is opposite of the main square.

THE ROYAL TOBACCO FACTORY (UNIVERSITY OF SEVILLE)

The Royal Tobacco Factory (Real Fábrica de Tabacos) is an 18th-century stone building in Sevilla. Since the 1950s it has been the seat of the rectorate of the University of Seville

Prior to that, it was, as its name indicates, a tobacco factory: the most prominent such institution in Europe, and a lineal descendant of Europe's first tobacco factory, which was located nearby. It is one of the most notable and splendid examples of industrial architecture from the era of Spain's "Antiguo Régimen"

The scenery of this factory where one of the employees was named Carmen was the inspiration for George Bizet to write the opera Carmen.

THE GOLDEN TOWER

The Torre del Oro (golden tower) is one of Seville's most famous monuments. You will find the tower depicted on many postcards and on souvenirs. Did you know that the Torre del Oro belonged to the old city walls and served in defence of the city and the Alcázar Palace.

During your visit to Seville. you can hardly miss the tower. It stands on the left bank of the Guadalquivir river, opposite the bullfighter’s arena.Today it is 36 meters high and consists of three parts. The Torre del Oro takes its name from the fact that the second part used to seem gilded and a golden sheen shined in the river. However, some relate the name to the gold stored in the tower at the time of the colonial trade with South America.

Maritime museum 

The upper part of the tower, built in 1760 by the Spanish military engineer Sebastian van Borght (born in Brussels, Belgium), has been round and crowned with a spire tower. After a thorough restoration of the tower it officially became the maritime museum (Museo Naval de Sevilla). The small museum exhibits various antique shipping instruments, ships models, historical recordings and old Sea Maps. The museum was restored in 2005.

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SANTA CARIDAD (THE MIGUEL MAÑARA LEGACY)

Santa Caridad (Holy Charity) is an interesting place to visit. The former hospital was founded in the 17th century by initiative of the in 1578 founded Brotherhood of Santa Caridad.  In 1644 the Brotherhood decided to build a new church and a hospital on the foundations of the old chapel of St George in Triana. This hospital was specially built to provide medical care to the poor of Seville.

In those days Miguel Mañara lived in Seville (1627-1679). When his wife dies in 1661, this rich and powerful Sevillian completely changed his lifestyle. Where he lived before as today one would say a playboy, from that moment on he became a philanthropist. In 1662 he joined the Brotherhood of Santa Caridad and devotes his further life to charity and God. With his financial support the Church could be finished and was completed in 1770 In the 17 remaining years of his life, Miguel Mañara has meant a great deal to the Brotherhood and the poor people of Seville. When he finally dies in 1679 to honour him he was buried in the entrance of the Church of Santa Caridad where one still walks over his tombstone today when one goes into the church.

The hospital is now a museum about the history of the Fraternity. 

THE MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS

The museum of fine arts is the second gallery of Spain after the Prado Museum in Madrid.

It was constructed in September of 1835 but official inaugurated in 1841.  It´s location is at the Plaza del Museo, in front of the museum in the square is a sculpture of Bartolomé Esteban Murillo.  It is a fundamental museum to get acquainted with the Sevillian Baroque paintings. This style called ¨the school of Seville¨ has produced many great masters such as, Zurbarán, Murillo, Valdés Leal and finally Diego Velazquez. The museum as well gives a lot of attention to the19th century Andalusian painting. The building that currently houses the museum was originally built as a convent of La Merced, for the Order of La Merced Calzada de la Asunción, founded by San Pedro Nolasco during the reign of Fernando III. 

TRIANA 

Triana is a district in the western part of Seville named after the Roman emperor Trajanus

Triana is separated from Seville by an arm of the Guadalquivir that crosses city from north to south and is best known for its manufacturers of pottery and wall tiles but also for the sake of the bullfighters born there such as Juan Belmonte, Antonio Montes and Chicuelo (Manuel Jiménez Moreno) and the singers and dancers of flamenco. But Triana is also as far as we are concerned the authentic Seville with lots of tapas bars and restaurants and coziness in the streets. Every August the Feria of Triana is held along the River. 

Until 1970, many gypsies lived in Triana but they were displaced under pressure from the real estate market. To the north is Isla Mágica, a theme park, close to the grounds where part of the World Exhibition Expo '92 was held.

One of Triana's eye catchers is the Triana Tower, The architect Francisco Javier Saenz de Oiza was inspired by Rome's  Angel Castle. In this building constructed in 1993 houses the administration of the Junta de Andalucía.. 

In Triana every week on Sunday morning a street market is organized on the Puerta de Triana on the banks of the Guadalquivir.  Other places you must visit are the Fresh market, the Ceramics Museum and the historical Museum under the fresh market. 

Our advice to you is to cross the river once over the famous Triana bridge and experience authentic Seville

METROPOL PARASOL (LAS SETAS)

Metropol Parasol is a wooden structure located at Plaza la Encarnación in the old quarter of Seville. It was designed by the German architect Jurgen Mayer and completed in April 2011. It has dimensions of 150 by 70 metres (490 by 230 ft) and an approximate height of 26 metres (85 ft) and claims to be the largest wooden structure in the world. Its appearance, location, delays and cost overruns in construction resulted in much public controversy. The building is popularly known as Las Setas de la Encarnación (Incarnation's mushrooms).

The structure consists of six parasols in the form of giant mushrooms ("Las setas" in Spanish), whose design is inspired by the vaults of the Cathedral of Seville and the Ficus Trees on the nearby Plaza de Cristo de Burgos. Metropol Parasol is organized in four levels. The underground level (Level 0) houses the Antiquarium where Roman and Moorish remains discovered on site are displayed in a museum. Level 1 (street level) is the Central Market. The roof of Level 1 is the surface of the open-air public plaza, shaded by the wooden parasols above and designed for public events. Levels 2 and 3 are the two stages of the panoramic terraces (including a restaurant), offering one of the best views of the city centre.

ITALICA

Itálica was founded by Scipio Africanis in 206 BC as the first Roman city on the Iberian Peninsula. She made a great bloom during imperial time. The downturn took place as early as the third century, presumably because the river guadalquivir shifted its course. Itálica is now an archaeological site, whose excavations began in 1781 Only a small part of the city has been clavated, including the amphitheater, which could hold 25,000 spectators, the theatre, and some distinguished houses. Many mosaics have been uncovered, some of which are still in good condition. Further finds of Itálica are kept in the Museo Arqueológico in Seville and in the Palacio de la Condesa de Lebrija in the same city.

The ruins of Itálica were sung in the 16th century in the "Canción de las ruinas de Itálica" by Rodrigo Caro (1573 - 1647) with the initial words "The land O Fabio, which you see here, O smart, deserted fields, arid hill, was once the famous Itálica. The arid wasteland was an example of faded glory. Itálica was the birthplace of the Roman emperor Trajan and perhaps also of his successor Hadrian. The Triana district is named after the first in Seville