Seville

Birthplace of Flamenco, domain of the Bullfight and home of Carmen, Don Jaun and Figaro, the city of Seville and romance are inseparable. Legend has it that Hercules was Seville’s founding father and appropriately it is now one of the largest historical centres in Europe. The largest town in southern Spain, it has a reputation for being a joyous place, a fact upheld by the witty charm and geniality of the residents.

Arriving in Seville one cannot help but be taken aback by the tremendous wealth of striking architecture to admire. Of particular interest is Barrio Santa Cruz. This maze of winding cobbled streets and plazas flanked by orange trees is very much in character with Seville`s romantic image. Here the piece de resistance is the cavernous Gothic Cathedral, one of the three largest in the world, along with St.Pauls in London and St. Peters in Rome. Inside it is even more breathtaking, an almost dizzying array of traditional Spanish religious structures and decorations gathered below an intricate canopy of lavish gothic vaulting. Close to the Cathederal’s south door stands the Tomb of Christopher Columbus, which is believed to hold the remains of the Spain’s greatest explorer. Built from a design by Arturao Melida in 1891 it features 4 pallbearers, each of which represents one of the Kingdoms of the Spanish Crown of 1492.

Almost as imposing as the Cathedral is its nearest neighbour, the towering Giralda, which stands as an impressive reminder of the splendid mosque that once stood on the site. Cross the Plaza del Triunfo and you’ll come across the mystical and elaborate Palace of Alcazar, one of the best surviving examples of Mudejar architecture, with its royal palaces and lush gardens of Pedro 1 and Carlos V. Also In Barrio Santa Cruz is the Archivo de Indias, which houses over 80 million pages of historic documents pertaining to Spain’s discovery and conquest of the New World.

With such a wealth of art, culture and history it is clear why Sellilanos are so fiercely proud and defensive of their traditions and nowhere is this more apparent than at the Bullfight. Despite numerous high profile campaigns to abolish Spain’s national sport, its popularity remains on the increase. There are over seventy bullrings in Andalusia alone and the most important, the Real Maestranza and Plaza de Toros, are both in Seville.

If you’re looking for spectacle and Bullfighting is not to your liking, then Flamenco dancing offers an exhilarating romantic treat. Probably the best place to enjoy Spain’s most passionate dance is in one of the many bars that host Flamenco nights. Although some may be lacking in authenticity this is more than made up for by the vibrant atmosphere this exciting dance creates. For authentic displays, Los Gallos on Plaza de Santa Cruz comes highly recommended. You may even be lucky enough to catch a performance by one of Spain’s big-name Flamenco dancers at the Tearto Central on Isla de La Cartuja.

As befits a place that is the setting for two of the worlds most loved operas, Carmen and The Barber of Seville, the city has an excellent reputation for theatre and music. Seville’s flagship opera house Teatro de la Maestranza was built for Expo ’92 and incorporates the original façade of Maestranza de Artilleria. This magnificent hall has the largest stage in Europe and seating for up to 1800 people. Various subsidies ensure that it can afford world-class artists, virtually guaranteeing performances of invariably excellent quality.

The Sevillanos are almost fanatical about their reputation for enjoying life and, in accordance, there are more bars per square meter here than anywhere else in the country. At night the town resembles a huge drinking and dining theme park and, although it may not be as easy on you pocket as many Spanish cities, the quality of the restaurant food is generally excellent.To make your stay more affordable it is wise to follow the age-old advice offered by discerning travellers the world over – eat where the locals eat, and a favourite Sevillano pastime Tappas hopping. Most of the bars in the centre serve a selection of these traditional Spanish snacks and a few hours sampling the various regional delights is an ideal way to eat drink and be merry.

A trip to Seville is as much an education as a holiday. This most colourful of European cities offers such richly satisfying portions of Spain’s history, art and culture, you will almost certainly leave with a craving for more.
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