Some say Seville was founded by Hercules. Hercules could not be reached for verification. Waves of Carthaginians, Romans, Goths, Vandals, and Moors have seen Seville since Hercules. None of them have seen the Spain Square.

The square is situated at the edge of Maria Louisa Park, Seville's largest green area. In 1914 Anibal Gonzales, architect, began work in preparation for the Ibero-American Exposition of 1929. Using the styles of Art Deco and Spanish Renaissance Revival, Spanish Baroque Revival and Neo-Mudejar, Anibal created the Spain Square.

The square is embraced by a semi-circle of exotic buildings and towers bordering a moat. The moat encloses a vast open space. In the center of the space is the Vicente Traver fountain. The buildings are reached by four bridges that stretch over the moat. Take a boat ride in the moat and view the square around you. It's like floating in a dream.

The four bridges represent Castile, Leon, Aragon, and Navarre, the four ancient kingdoms of Spain. Around the edges of the square are 52 niches or alcoves. Each is a tiny pavilion of colorful azulejo tiles, depicting a province of Spain. Each alcove has shelves used as a lending library, offering books on the provinces.

The Ibero-American Exposition was meant to show a reconciliation between Spain and her former American colonies and territories. There was a great need to build a modern state and reestablish economic and cultural ties to the New World. The square holds this vision of a glorious past and a promising future, embracing it in the heart of Spain.

Why you should visit:
To experience the soul and grandeur of this city.

The Plaza de America in Seville is located within the Maria Luisa Park and is a significant part of the artistic urban complex created for the Ibero-American Exhibition in 1929. This square is surrounded by three palaces, each built in a distinct architectural style.

Aníbal González constructed these three buildings between 1913 and 1916 in preparation for the future Ibero-American Exposition of 1929, with each palace showcasing a unique architectural style. The first one, designed in the Neo-Gothic style, is known as the Royal Pavilion. The second, following the Neomudejar architectural style, houses the Museum of Popular Arts and Customs. Lastly, the third palace, designed in Neo-Renaissance style, serves as the Provincial Archaeological Museum, home to the remarkable Carambolo Treasure, which is the largest discovery of prehistoric precious metalwork.

In addition to these palaces, the square features the Glorieta de Miguel de Cervantes, adorned with ceramics depicting scenes from his famous works, and the Glorieta de Rodríguez Marín. The entire ensemble is surrounded by a series of columns connected by chains with illuminated globes, adorned with winged victories sculpted by Manuel Delgado Brackembury and Lorenzo Coullaut Valera. On April 7, 1926, following a dinner at the Royal Pavilion, a celebration took place in the Plaza, during which King Alfonso XIII delivered a poignant speech emphasizing the significance of Seville as the economic hub of southern Spain and the importance of the upcoming Seville Exposition.

You shouldn't miss a visit to María Luisa Park before leaving Seville. It's a stunning location that stretches along the Guadalquivir River and serves as the city's main green space. Most of the park used to be the gardens of the Palace of San Telmo. In 1893, Infanta Luisa Fernanda, Duchess of Montpensier, generously donated these grounds to the city of Seville to create a public park. The gardens, as we see them today, were redesigned by Jean-Claude Nicolas Forestier, starting in 1911. Subsequently, the park played a crucial role in the Ibero-American Exposition of 1929, contributing to its impressive architectural setting.

To prepare for the exhibition, the entire southern part of the city underwent redevelopment, transforming into an expansive area filled with gardens and grand boulevards. At its heart lies the Parque de María Luisa, designed in a "Moorish paradise style" and featuring a half-mile of tiled fountains, pavilions, walls, ponds, benches, and exedras. You'll find abundant plantings of palms, orange trees, Mediterranean pines, and carefully designed flower beds, some of which are hidden by vines.

María Luisa Park also serves as a botanical garden, showcasing a wide variety of plant species, both native and exotic, with informative panels to educate visitors. The park is home to numerous bird species, particularly doves (so much so that a part of Plaza de América is known as "Parque de las Palomas" or Dove Park). Additionally, you'll spot green parrots living in the park's center, as well as ducks and swans in the fountains and lakes.

Why You Should Visit:
The historic buildings, sculptures, and water features make this a unique work of garden landscaping and leafy beauty. There is always something new to explore or do!
At various points, you can join different experiences, such as feeding the birds (Plaza de America), riding a bike (including family cycles), or entertaining yourself taking photos of the incomparable Plaza de España.

Tip:
Make sure you visit during the "golden hour" when the light is the most beautiful in Sevilla (in July it would be around 8-9pm)!

The gardens of the Royal Palace of Seville are the grandest late- medieval gardens anywhere in Europe and possibly, the world. After 1248, the year of the Christian Reconquista of Andalusia, the craftsmen and artisans of Seville developed the style known as Mudejar. "Mudejar" means "allowed to stay." The Moorish styles remained.

During the 16th century Seville was the richest city in Spain. The designers of Charles V focused on Renaissance styles when creating follies and gardens. The old garden spaces remained but the pavilions, gazebos and labyrinths were another matter. The alcazar gardens of Peter I enclosed pools, fountains, and niches of glazed tiles.

The plantings of the gardens include palms, cypress, myrtle, berries, magnolia and citrus trees. When the orange trees drop their oranges, the air is filled with the scent of jasmine and oranges. The Alcazar gardens are a cluster of mazes, pools and intimate paths, palm trees and fountains. It is almost too much sweetness to bear.

In the year 712, Seville was conquered by the Umayyad Caliphate. Then began 700 years of Arab rule in Andalusia. In 913 Abd al-Rahman III built a fort over a Visigothic church.

This construction was expanded in the 11th century by an addition called "Al Mubarak", The Blessed. Seville became the capital of Al-Andalus and there followed a period of demolishing and rebuilding until twelve palaces had been built one over the other. In 1366 Pedro I built Mudejar Palace. Ferdinand and Isabella made the top floor the royal residence.

Styles followed one another over the years until no hint remained of the original design. They refashioned with Islamic, Gothic, Romanesque and Renaissance influences. Then came Baroque, with Islamic overtones. Did we mention tiles? Majolica and arista? Ceramic tiles, Seville had more than anyone. More cigars and more tiles.

La Puerta de Leon (Lion Gate) is the main gate to the palace. It is named for the tile inlay above the entrance depicting a lion holding a cross and a banner in Latin which could be translated as "ready for anything". With all the architectural changes to the palace since 913, the scroll is true wit.

Visit the gardens. All the old Andalusian palaces had gardens which featured fruit trees, vegetables and flowers. They not only provided food but also visual and esthetic pleasure. Water was plentiful in fountains and ponds. In the 16th century the old Muslim wall was turned into a loggia to admire the view of the palace gardens.

Must see items in the palace are the patios and rooms. Some of the names are intriguing. Courtyard of the Dolls, Bedroom of the Moorish Kings, Justice Room, Prince's Room, Courtyard of the Maidens, and there are at least thirteen gardens.

The Plaza del Triunfo, or Triumph Square, is a popular meeting spot that is adjacent to many beautiful, historic buildings. The plaza gets its name from the Triumph of Our Lady of Patrocinio temple, a baroque temple built in 1756.

Other buildings and structures near the Triumph Square include the House of Province, the General Archive of the Indies, the Chapel of Our Lady of Antigua and the Immaculate Conception monument, built in 1918. This monument pays homage to Bartolome Esteban Murillo, Miguel Cid, Martínez Montanes and Juan de Pineda.

The plaza was previously known as the Plaza de los Cantos during construction of the cathedral. It was called Plaza del Hospital del Ray when the House of Province was used as a Hospital. The name was changed in the 18th century after completion of the temple and the Triunfo monument.

Triumph Square is within easy reach of many of the city's most historic and important areas.

The Seville Cathedral is standing on the Great Mosque. In 1248 the city was conquered by Ferdinand III. The Cathedral replaced the Mosque in the 14th century but not the minaret. The minaret is called the Giralda Tower for the weather vane at its peak. The minaret has no stairs, only ramps so the sultan could ride his horse to the top and enjoy the view.

The cathedral is accessed through the Plaza Virgen de los Reyes. It has five naves. The main nave is 118 feet high. The floor measures 380 feet long and 249 feet wide. The transept rises to 131 feet. Seville Cathedral is also known as the Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Sea. It is listed as one of UNESCO World Heritage sites since 1987.

It is told that when the church plan was presented to the church elders, they said "Let us build a church so beautiful and so grand that those who see it finished will think we are mad." Christopher Columbus and his son are buried here. When Hagia Sofia became a mosque the Cathedral of Seville became the tallest cathedral known.

The Giralda Tower was built using local bricks and scrap marble left from Umayyad construction. It was made to resemble the minaret of the Koutoubia Mosque of Marrakesh, Morocco. The tower 342 feet high and it is still one of the most memorable symbols of old Seville.

Why you should visit:
Ride the ramp up the minaret like the sultan of old and admire the city.

Tip:
Come early or go online to book the rooftop tour! You can also climb up the Giralda Tower (free on Mondays) to get an eagle's eye view of Sevilla. Don't miss the tomb of Columbus right off the altar, and consider buying the combined ticket with Divino Salvador Church, which is a marvel by itself.

The Convent of the Incarnation (Convento de la Encarnación) is situated in the heart of Seville, right in the city center, across from the Cathedral and the Archbishop's Palace. It's nestled in the Santa Cruz neighborhood and is commonly known as the Convento de Santa Marta because it occupies the grounds of the old Hospital de Santa Marta. This convent is affiliated with the Order of Hermits of Saint Augustine, which was established in 1244.

The church itself features a single nave with ribbed vaults supported by four corbels. The presbytery has a square layout and is capped by a dome, which used to be a Moorish chapel. In the 19th century, additional rooms were added to the convent when the Augustinian community settled there.

Visitors are welcome to explore the church, but the rest of the convent is not open to the public. Adjacent to the church, you can purchase a notable item known as "Recortes de la Sagrada Forma." These are delicate, round white wafers that symbolize the Body of Christ in the Eucharist, though they are not consecrated.

Cristina Hoyos founded the Flamenco Dance Museum. The museum has interactive exhibits and a nightly performance. The museum maintains a history of Southern Spain's flamenco dancing. There are posters, costumes shoes and above all atmosphere.

Each day the line up of musicians, dancers and singers is changed. To see every style of flamenco, you must come more than once, no, many times. All dance museum's dance choreographies are created by Cristina Hoyos. There are Alegrias, Seguirya, Solea, Taranto, and passionate tangos. No videotaping or recording is allowed.

The museum is located in the Santa Cruz quarter near the Alfalfa Square. It offers daily performances of the "Patio Flamenco" show. The museum also provides exhibits and workshops, including dance classes open to visitors. The exhibits are focused on flamenco paintings, drawings and photos. The museum attracts the best flamenco dance talent in Spain.

Tip:
If possible, get there early and try to get a seat near the front facing the show, as sitting at the side could slightly affect the view of the dancers' feet, which is such a big part of Flamenco dancing. Perhaps consider booking tickets for the "VIP" show with a smaller group of dancers, which is more intimate and a little more expensive but you get a glass of bubbly with that one, too.

Museum

Metropol Parasol is a wooden structure erected in La Plaza de Encarnacion. It has 113,000 square feet of area and 85 feet in height. It is the largest of its kind in the world. People call it "The Mushrooms" because it looks like mushrooms. It is formed by six parasols in the form of mushrooms.

The design of the mushrooms was inspired by the vaults of the Cathedral of Seville and the ficus trees in the Plaza de Cristo de Burgos. There are four levels. Level zero (underground) is home to the Antiquarium. The Antiquarium is a museum displaying Roman and Moorish remains and artifacts discovered while the Parasols were being built.

The next level is Level One. Level One is the street-level open air public plaza and market. Level One is shaded by the wooden parasols above. Levels Two and Three are panoramic terraces and a restaurant. The Parasol project was not created without controversy. There are cost problems, people disliked the appearance, and there are safety concerns.

Since the 19th century there was a market in the plaza, within a "dedicated" building. Following plans for urban renewal, the building was pulled down in part in 1948. The market remained until 1973 before the remainder of the building was removed. The land stayed fallow until 1990 when the city had finally decided on an underground parking lot.

Then the unexpected happened. The diggers discovered ruins and remains dating to the Roman and Moorish eras. All work was stopped and archeology took over. After an expenditure of more than 14 million Euros, the project went into deep freeze. At last, in 2004 the city tried to resume development and opened a competition for bids.

The winner of the competition was destined to change the profile of Seville forever. The winner was German architect Jurgen Mayer who designed six mushroom shapes as parasols to shelter the public area below. The mushrooms were constructed entirely of imported Finnish wood known for its straightness.

The honey-comb structure provides shade for the shops and market below. Admission is free for residents of the city. For others tickets to the top of the parasol cost a few euros. This includes a free drink. The best time to go is at sunset. The view from the top is magical.

Located in the Plaza del Salvador in Seville, the Church of the Divine Savior is the largest church in the city after the Cathedral. The church was built over the remains Ibn Adabba, the Great Mosque, and an early Christian chapel. It fell into disrepair over the centuries between 1340 and 2008 when it was fully restored to its former glory.

The church is baroque. The facade however, has a mannerist influence. Mannerist architecture developed after the end of the renaissance style and the first signs of the Baroque, about 1610. The building is rectangular and it has three naves. The vaults are a barrel type. Pillars with columns support the vaults. The drum is octagonal.

The main altarpiece was by Cayetano de Acosta in Baroque style. The immaculate Mary appears over the tabernacle. In the center is the Transfiguration of Jesus, surrounded by Archangels. In the central nave the columns have a tracery of eucharistic symbols. There are lions and castles. The church is about the moment Jesus reveals his divinity.

Tip:
Purchase the "combined" ticket here and you'll be able to skip the long line at the Cathedral and Giralda.

El Salvador Square, known as Plaza del Salvador, is an open pedestrian area situated in the Alfalfa neighborhood, within the historic Casco Antiguo district of Seville. This square holds significant renown in Seville, serving as a gathering point for locals during the day and a popular hangout spot in the evenings. Interestingly, it was once the central square of the ancient Roman city of Hispalis. The focal point of the square is the Iglesia Colegial del Divino Salvador, an impressive baroque church constructed between 1674 and 1712, built upon the site where the main mosque of Islamic Ishbiliya once stood.

Within the square, you can find a statue of Martínez Montañés, a renowned Spanish sculptor from the Renaissance and Baroque period in Seville. This statue was originally placed in 1923 but underwent two relocations, first to a square near the cathedral in 1967 and ultimately to its current and permanent location in Plaza del Salvador in 1985. During the years 1968 to 1970, the Bolea poplar trees were replaced with orange trees in the square's surroundings.

Notably, the square is surrounded by remarkable structures adorned with exquisite baroque facades. Furthermore, it serves as a significant shopping hub, housing grocery stores, cafes, and popular wine cellars, adding to its vibrant atmosphere.

The Plaza de Toros de la Maestranza is Spain's oldest bullring and is associated with the Real Maestranza de Caballería de Sevilla, a venerable guild dedicated to traditional cavalry training. It serves as the venue for one of the world's most renowned bullfighting festivals during the annual Seville Fair in Seville.

The bullring itself is among the city's most popular tourist attractions, drawing a significant number of visitors. It is considered a particularly challenging arena for bullfighting due to its historical significance, unique features, and a demanding audience that is known to be unforgiving among bullfighting enthusiasts.

In Seville, bullfights during the Feria de Abril represent the highlight of the city's bullfighting calendar. The regular bullfighting season typically runs from March or April (depending on the dates of Semana Santa) until late September. Each year, the Real Maestranza commissions a painter to create a poster announcing the bullfighting season at its Royal Bullring.

Regular tours are available for visitors to explore the Bullring and its associated Museum, providing a genuine sense of what both the bull and the bullfighter experience. It's worth noting that you don't need to be a bullfighting enthusiast to find these tours and the history of the place intriguing.

Tip:
If you go on a Sunday to attend a bullfight, make sure you buy tickets in the shade. Don't bring huge hats – you'll probably be asked by irate patrons behind you to take it off since its blocking their view.

The Gold Tower, situated in Seville, is a twelve-sided military watchtower constructed by the Almohad dynasty to control access to Seville via the Guadalquivir river. It was built in the early 13th century and had a role as a prison during the Middle Ages. Its name originates from the radiant golden reflection it cast on the river, attributed to its construction materials, which consisted of a blend of mortar, lime, and compacted hay.

This tower is divided into three levels, with the third and uppermost level being circular in shape, added in 1769. Nearby, there is a smaller octagonal tower known as the Silver Tower, believed to have been built during the same era.

In recent centuries, the Gold Tower faced a threat when the adjacent road needed expansion. However, due to strong opposition from the local population, the idea of demolishing the tower was abandoned. In 1868, there was an attempt to sell it as scrap, but this proposal was also vehemently rejected by the city's residents. Today, the tower has been restored and serves as a naval museum, housing engravings, letters, models, instruments, and historical documents. The museum provides insights into the naval history of Seville and the significance of its river.