Two Days in Seville, Spain
Recently I went to visit Seville, the capital of Andalusia. Now I can say, that without a doubt, that it is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. Two days is definitely not enough to see all the attractions of this magnificent city, but even during such a short period of time you can get the unforgettable taste of Andalusia and fall in love with it.
History
Before heading over to any destination I like to read a little bit about its history.
According to the legend, Sevilla was founded by the ancient hero Hercules. Residents of the city still believe in this ancient legend, so the image of the legendary hero serves as an ornament to the Ayuntamiento arcade and Alameda de Hercules Street, which was built in his honor.
According to some ancient sources,there was a small settlement of Iberians in the territory of modern Seville, and a little later there was a colony of Ispalis, which belonged to the Phoenicians. Around the 3rd c. BC. e. the city was conquered by the Romans, who nicknamed it Betika. After the fall of the Roman Empire, Seville was for some time the capital of the Visigoths, as evidenced by the ruins.
In 712, Seville was conquered by the Arabs, who ruled them for five centuries. This left an indelible mark on the architecture of the city and the culture of its local residents.
In 1248, Seville was reconquered by the Spanish people. It was from this moment the infrastructure of the city began to develop rapidly.
In the XV century. from the port of Seville, the famous traveler and discoverer of America, Christopher Columbus, began his long journey to the shores of India, which in 1492 became the famous discovery of the New World. This time was the beginning of the prosperity of the city’s economy, since it was only Sevilla that had the right to trade in newly opened countries.
The city became a port of world importance, where you could see the treasures brought from different parts of the world. The Arab historian Al Sakundi wrote about this extraordinary city: “Whoever did not go to Seville, did not see a miracle.”
Attractions
The rich history of Seville is reflected in its appearance. Most of the city’s attractions are in the old part of the city, on the left bank of the Guadalquivir, the brightest of which is the Seville Cathedral (Catedral de Santa María de la Sede de Sevilla). It was built for over 100 years, from 1401 to 1519, the height of this structure is 116 meters, and the length is 76 meters. The cathedral impresses with its elegant and even solemn appearance, which can not be better emphasized by the highest dome and monumental columns.
The famous tower of the Giralda (Giralda) is a kind of symbol of Seville, reflecting the intersection of the culture of civilizations and eras. Even today it is not known when exactly the foundation of the minaret was laid.
Opposite the Cathedral and the Giralda is the Plaza de la Virgen de los Reyes, next to which you can also see the proudly standing Alcázar, which originally belonged to the Moorish rulers, and after the conquest of Seville by Spain became the residence of Christian kings.
Another bright representative of Arab architecture is the 12-sided Gold Tower (Torre del Oro), whose height reaches 37 m. Its construction began in 1220, it was part of the city fortification.
Not far from the Golden Tower is the Plaza de Toros de la Real Maestranza, where famous bullfights take place. It was built in 1763 and to this day is one of the largest in Spain.
One of my favorite places in Seville was the Plaza de España inside the Parque de María Luisa. Such a charming place and so Andalusian!
Another attraction which is definitely worth visiting is The Metrosol Parosol building. It is very controversial and many people were against this project, saying that it spoils the authentic image of Sevilla. I completely disagree and think that now it is one of those zests of the city that you always keep remembering after visiting.
Another place I recommend you to see is maybe not so obvious but is definitely worth visiting – the central market of Sevilla. There is the stairs leading to the level underneath the market where you can see the remains of ancient Seville.
Also, to get the true taste of Sevilla, I recommend you to go a little bit further main touristic areas and walk around narrow streets and cute patios – that’s where the heart of Seville is hidden.
Where to eat
Multinational history of Seville was reflected not only in the culture of citizens and the architecture of the city itself, but also in the kitchen. Since the city is on a river that flows into the sea, then the cuisine here is mostly based on the seafood.
One of the most famous restaurants in Seville is Corral del Rey – a luxury restaurant with a bar. Visitors prefer to have dinner or dinner on the terrace, from which a beautiful view of the main attraction of the city Cathedral Square and the Cathedral opens. Here you can taste traditional Spanish cuisine from meat and vegetable dishes, as well as fish dishes. And in the restaurant bar visitors can enjoy more than 100 kinds of different cocktails.
Another of the most visited restaurants is La Giralda, where you can feel the cozy and warm atmosphere combined with reasonable prices.
We found a hidden gem of Seville – the small taverna called La Sal. We were delighted with the interior and the food. The main specialty is fresh tuna brought from Cadiz.
I hope that this guide was useful and that you will plan a visit to this amazing city one day!
