Old Seville Walking Tour (Self Guided), Seville

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.

Why you should visit
To see a palace the has housed king and queens since the the early middle ages.

Opening Hours:
Monday-Sunday: 9:30 am - 7:00 pm
During the months of October and March, guided tours begin at: 7:30pm, 8pm, 8:30pm, 9pm
From 1st April to 30th September, guided tours begin at: 9pm, 9:30pm, 10pm, 10:30pm
Monday from 6 to 7pm (Apr-Sep), and from 4 to 5pm (Oct-Mar): Free admission

Archivo General de Indias, also known as the General Archive of the Indies, is located near Plaza del Triunfo in central Seville. The archive was created in 1785 as a place to hold all documentation regarding the country's overseas territories, though the building has a history that dates to 1646.

The building was designed by architect Juan de Herrera. It was used as a center of commerce for the city. Other architects, including Alonso de Vandelvira and Miguel de Zumarraga, aided Herrera in designing a building that was resistant to fires, which was a common issue at the time.

King Carlos III reinvented the building as a place to hold important documentation relating to possessions in the Americas. Seville was chosen for this, in part, because the city was the sole trade port in Spain for the New World.

Visitors may explore that archives on Tuesday through Saturday from 9.30 AM to 4:45 PM. The building is open on Sundays from 10 AM to 1:45 PM. It is closed on Mondays and certain holidays. Admission is free.

Tip:
One of the most interesting exhibits is on the ground floor – the 1616 cannon from the "Nuestra Señora de Atocha" which was a treasure-laden ship that sank in a storm on the way back to Spain from Havana. This exhibit is enough to make the visit memorable – don't miss it!

Opening Hours: Tue-Sat: 9:30am-4:45pm; Sun: 10am-2pm
Free admission

Gold Tower is a dodecagonal military watchtower in Seville, built by the Almohad dynasty in order to control access to Seville via the Guadalquivir river. Constructed in the first third of the 13th century, the tower served as a prison during the Middle Ages. Its name comes from the golden shine it projected on the river, due to its building materials (a mixture of mortar, lime and pressed hay). The tower is divided into three levels, with the third and uppermost being circular in shape and added in 1769. The smaller and octagonal Silver Tower is nearby and is believed to be built in the same era.

At one point in the last two centuries the tower came under threat when the adjacent road needed widening but faced by strong opposition from the locals the demolition idea was dropped. In 1868 it was put up for sale as scrap but this too was vehemently rejected by the city's inhabitants. Today the tower, having been restored, is a naval museum containing engravings, letters, models, instruments and historic documents. The museum outlines the naval history of Seville and the importance of its river.

The Plaza de Toros de la Maestranza is the oldest bullring in Spain and part of the Real Maestranza de Caballería de Sevilla, a noble guild established for traditional cavalry training. During the annual Seville Fair in Seville, it is the site of one of the most well-known bullfighting festivals in the world.

The ring itself is considered one of the city's most enjoyable tourist attractions and is certainly one of the most visited. As a stage for bullfighting, it is considered one of the world's most challenging environments because of its history, characteristics, and viewing public, which is considered one of the most unforgiving in all of bullfighting fandom.

Bullfights in Seville during the Feria de Abril are the most important event of the city's bullfighting calendar. The regular season goes from March or April (depending on the Semana Santa dates) until late September. Every year the Real Maestranza commissions a painter to produce a poster announcing the bullfighting season in its Royal Bullring.

Regular tours are conducted of the Bullring and the Museum, allowing one to get a genuine feeling of how both bull and fighter must feel. You certainly don't have to be a bullfighting enthusiast to find it interesting.

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.

Opening Hours:
Daily: 9:30am-7pm (Nov-Mar); 9:30am-9pm (Apr-Oct); 9:30am-3pm (bullfighting days)

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.

Opening Hours:
Mon: 11am-3:30pm; Tue-Sat: 11am-5pm; Sun: 2:30-6pm (Sep-Jun); Mon: 10:30am-4:00pm; Tue-Sat: 10:30am-6pm; Sun: 2-7pm (Jul-Aug) This schedule can be seen modified without notice by the celebration of liturgies inside the enclosure

The Archbishop's Palace or El Palacio Arzobispal in Seville has served as the residence of bishops and archbishops of the episcopal sees and numerous nobleman and military figures to the present time. Of Spanish Baroque architectural style, it is impressive both for its architectural beauty as for its colorful character and has had the status of National Monument since 1969.

After many years of very restricted access, you can now visit the interior of this artistic gem of Seville. The palace has an important artistic heritage consisting of paintings and sculptures from the Seville Baroque period, spread through the palace, surpassed only in Seville by the Museum of Fine Arts and the Seville Cathedral. The palace contains works by painters such as Francisco Herrera el Viejo, Francisco Pacheco, Zurbarán, Murillo, Antonio Palomino, and Juan de Espinal. There are also collections from the Italian and Dutch baroque schools.

Why You Should Visit:
A visit is worthwhile not only for the certainly impressive facade but also for the value of the palace's treasured pictorial works; however, note that all visits must be guided.

Iglesia de Santa Cruz, or the Church of Santa Cruz, is the headquarters of the Brotherhood of Santa Cruz. Construction of the church began in 1655 and was completed in 1672. The main chapel, designed by architect Jose Tirado, was added in 1728.

The interior of the church has three naves and a large altarpiece that was built in 1735. The Neoclassical temple was completed in 1792. The choir stalls, also Neoclassical, were completed in 1800. These stalls are made of mahogany and pine. They seat 46 members.

The facade of the Catholic church was was left bare until the early 20th century. At that point, a Neo-Baroque facade was added under the supervision of designer Juan Talavera y Heredia.

Tourists can visit the interior of the church during temple hours. They are also welcome to attend mass. Temple hours are from Monday through Saturday from 10 AM to 12:30 PM and from 6 PM to 10 PM. Mass occurs daily at 8 PM with additional services on Sundays at 10 AM and 1 PM.

The Hospital de los Venerables is the home of the Velazquez Center. The center is an art museum dedicated to the painter Diego Velazquez.

The building was originally used as a shelter for elderly, poor and disabled priests. Construction began in 1675 with a design by architect Juan Dominguez. It was completed in 1697 after architect Leonardo de Figueroa took over the plans.

The hospital functioned as a home for priests through the mid-19th century. At that point, it became a textile factory. However, complaints led to the hospital being reused as a residence for the priests until it was finally closed in the 1970s.

Restoration on the hospital began in 1987 and was completed in 1991. It was then that Queen Sofia dedicated the building to the works of Velazquez. It also features works by Martinez Montanes, Murillo, Valdes Leal and Roldan. Patrons will enjoy murals and sculptures throughout the building.

The Hospital de los Venerables is open daily from 10 AM through 6 PM. The cost for admission is 5.50 EUR for adults. Included in the price is an audio guide which is very clear and very informative on the art displayed. It is free for children ages 11 and under. The chapel is also very nice & the park across the street is a neat place for a picnic lunch.

Opening Hours:
Thu-Sun: 10am–2pm (last entry: 30 mins before closing)
Free admission on the first Thursday of every month

Los Gallos Tablao Flamenc is a venue for traditional flamenco dancing. The family-owned business has been in continuous operation since 1966. It has become known as one of the most prestigious flamenco venues. It is also the oldest of its kind in the city.

During a typical season, there are two performances nightly. The first is at 8:30 PM and the second at 10:30 PM. Each show is about 90 minutes long. It is recommended that patrons schedule their visits well in advance as the venue regularly sells out. In addition to the performance, each ticket includes one complimentary drink. Try to get as close to the stage as possible, as that will enhance your experience. Children under the age of five are not allowed.

Los Gallos Tablao Flamenc is located in a family home that was converted to offer flamenco performances. It is located off of the Plaza de Santa Cruz near the Casa de Murillo and the Hospital Los Venerables. It is also very near the Plaza Alfaro and the infamous Devil's Gate.