Jan 14 2009
A quick visit to Seville in Andalusia
Seville is Spain’s fourth largest city, the Andalusian capital, a city filled with Moorish and spanish history. arriving in Seville by car is likely to be frustrating with the amount of traffic and seeming lack of parking spaces, but follow the signs for the Centro Ciudad and park in one of the underground parking buildings scattered around the old city.
After parking the car one of the tourist information offices should be your first stop for a free map of the city and a guide to the major attractions with opening times and entrance fees. With a 2000 year history from Roman times when Seville was known as Hispalis, there is sure to be something to be seen here.
My first time in Seville was only a quick day trip from the coast so I only had a few hours to spend, wandering around the Seville’s Cathedral almost took all of my time but was well worth the time to see. The cathedral is Christendom’s fourth largest church in the world and was built in 1402 although not completed until the 1500s.
Across the square from the Cathedral is the Royal Palace, known as the Real Alcazar, and is still used even now by the Spanish Royal Family when they holiday in the city. The plaza surrounding the Alcazar and Cathedral is a great place to start your tour of Seville by horse and carriage, and on a fine day any number of local artists display their work for sale around the gate out of the Alcazar.
A short walk will see you at the river in Seville, the Guadalquivir, which even now is navigable to the Mediterranean and lends Seville it’s status as a port. It is here that the several open top tourist buses depart on their one hour trip around the highlights of the city. Pricing is very reasonable, just 15€ which can be used over two days and also allows you to join up with the walking tour guides.
Not far is the tower, known as the Torre del Oro which used to be the main lookout along the river offering protection to the city from attack. These days the tower is used as a maritime museum, and the entrance fee also lets you climb to the top for a great view of the river and old city.
In my one day of being a tourist in Seville I can honestly say that I was impressed with the city, and how modern the facilities were. One day is not enough to see everything Sevilla has to offer so I will difinitely be back for another look.
