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10

Seville Holiday & Sightseeing Guide

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A trip to Seville
In Spain’s southern Andalusia region, Seville is the stylish flamenco capital of the world. This colourful city harbours a variety of ancient marvels of architecture cut by winding side streets and delightful pedestrian plazas. Old Roman legends have it that the city was founded by Hercules, and the local culture is a composite of multiple empires that have risen and fallen over the centuries.

Flights to Seville
Seville International Airport is a single-terminal facility that serves destinations across Europe and abroad. This modern airport is complete with ample banking, business and dining facilities that are more than adequate for its level of throughput. Beyond hiring a car on your own, transport links from the airport to the city centre consist of taxis and complimentary hotel shuttles. If you are looking for a cheap flight to Seville try Thomas Cook.

Buses are the most affordable, if not the most comfortable, means of getting around town. Many visitors are willing to part with a little more cash just to enjoy the comfort and convenience of a taxi. If you don’t mind sitting elbow-to-elbow with fellow travellers, the tourist service buses are a great way to get from one site to the next. Just buy a ticket in the morning and ride as much as you like all day long.

Seville

Sightseeing in Seville
While many of Spain’s visitors pass over Seville in favour of the art and culture of Barcelona, Seville still has plenty to offer its visitors. The Catedral de Sevilla is the third-biggest church in all of Europe and houses several 15th century art exhibits as well as the alleged remains of Christopher Columbus. The Plaza de Toros de la Maestranza is the oldest bullfighting ring in the world; the oldest parts date to the 18th century.

Isla Magica is a good attraction for whole families. This theme park has as 16th century Spain motif, complete with a roller coaster, actors wearing colonial garb and a few staged productions. The Maria Luisa Park is a nice place to relax in the shade in between sightseeing excursions.

Fun by night – eating drinking and partying
The real nightlife in Seville doesn’t start until nearly midnight. In fact, most restaurants don’t really get busy until 21:00, and then partyers usually segue from dining to dancing after midnight. Those with the greatest stamina usually end up on Alfalfa and Betis streets, where the nightclubs are open the latest. A more laid-back evening of drinks and conversation can be found in the bars and restaurants near the cathedral.

Live music and theatre performances are also popular in Seville. The Teatro de la Maestranza, located on Paseo de Colón 22, has some of the best opera in all of Spain. Venues around Pagès del Corro 49 and Cristóbal Colón 11 specialise in folk songs and flamenco dancing.

Fun by day - shopping and activities
You’ll find some excellent atmospheric markets scattered across Seville. Mercadillo de los Jueves, Mercadillo del Duque la Magdalena and Mercadillo de la Alameda are some of the best to go shopping for anything from souvenirs and gifts to fresh produce and snacks.

Daytrips
There are many major Andalusian highlights within easy reach of Seville that make the ideal daytrip for those who fancy a break from the city. Córdoba, Jerez and Cádiz all offer something similar and grand to Seville, while the mountain town of Ronda is unique. There are also many unique villages close to Seville, like the Roman town of Carmona.

If you fancy a trip to the coast, Marbella and the rest of the Costa del Sol is only a two-hour drive to the southeast. In addition to affluent Marbella are nearby Estepona, Fuengirola, Benalmadena, and Torremolinos, the capital of the Costa del Sol, Malaga, is farther east.

About the same distance away to the south is the British enclave of Gibraltar, also know as ‘the rock’. Shopping and eating are the main activities in Gibraltar, and of course a tour of the lofty rock itself. Be sure to also check out the caves and monkeys on the rock and the dolphin cruises in the harbour.

Those into wildlife will enjoy the Donana National Park, which is just southwest of Seville. This huge reserve is the largest such bird reserve in Europe, featuring perfect climatic conditions for numerous migrating birds.

Must-see attractions
The main landmark in the city is Seville Cathedral (Catedral de Sevilla) and the associated Giralda Tower. This massive church is the largest Gothic building in the world and houses the remains of Christopher Columbus. His elaborate tomb and many fine works of art can be seen inside the church.

Plaza de Toros de la Maestranza, the world’s oldest bullring, is another must-see Seville attraction. It dates from 1761 and a guided tour reveals the full immensity of the ring, which comes complete with an informative museum.

Isla Mágica is Seville’s most fun must-see attraction, especially for those with kids in tow. The park is on a 16th century Spanish colonial theme and contains loads of fun attractions, chief of which is the roller coaster. You will find Isla Mágica in the Isla de la Cartuja part of Seville.

María Luisa Park is the biggest of Seville’s parks and is the perfect place for relaxation. The park is very well landscaped and features miles of walking and cycling paths as well as other sporting activities.

Best time to go
It gets boiling hot in Seville in the summer due to the city not receiving the sea breezes that the nearby Costa del Sol does, although night-time temperatures are favourable. June to September is the hottest and busiest time in Seville, with August being the peak month.

The best time to head to Seville to catch some of the good weather but not be roasted is the shoulder seasons of spring and autumn.

Rainy day suggestions
Seville has an impressive collection of museums and galleries, of which the Seville Museum of Fine Art (Museo de Bellas Artes de Sevilla) is worth seeing, even when the sun is shining. Gold and silver works are featured here as well as Spanish art and sculptures. The Museum of the Macarena (Museo de la Macarena) is another good choice, as it features the statue of the Virgin Mary of Hope.

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