Seville is the capital and the largest city of Andalusia, the Spanish region located in the south of the Iberian peninsula. What makes Seville so special is not the architecture of its remarkable buildings, museums and parks, or the beauty of its sites. It's the energy of the ordinary people wandering around the streets of the city, the burning passion of the flamenco dancers and the vibe you feel at every single step in this stunning place.
Royal Palace Gardens
Once you find yourself in Seville, there are some must-do's you have to go for: see a flamenco show (there are many flamenco shows taking place in the street as well), enjoy a Spanish tapas in one of the delightful restaurants in the old town, or walk along the banks of Guadalquivir river while having a glass (two, or more) of typical Spanish drink – the famous Sangria.
Nevertheless, the architectural marvels of Seville are not to be left out. While in Seville, you should definitely go visit some of the landmarks of the city. In this article, I'll share with you my impressions and write you about three attractions of the city which made me fall in love with it at the very first sight!
1. Real Alcázar De Sevilla – the Royal Palace
Whether you are history lover, the Game of Thrones fan or simply an aesthete sensitive to the concepts of art and beauty, you will be amazed by the fascinating complexe of the Royal Alcázar de Sevilla - The Palace of the Kings, located in the very heart the city.
Royal Alcazar
Strolling through the spectacular gardens of the palace brings you back to the scenes of the popular movies and series such as Lawrence of Arabia, Kingdom of Heaven and the Game of Thrones whose filmings took place right here in the palace.
The Royal Palace complex comprises several buildings from different eras, which makes its architecture diverse and unique. It was built on the site of the residential fortress (alcazar) of the Abbadid Arab Muslim dynasty who ruled in this part of Andalusia from 8th to 11th century. Even after the Christians conquest of Seville in 13th century, the palace kept its principal political role and served as a Royal Residence.
In the middle of the 14th century, the complex had been refurbished and the palace was built for the Christian king Peter of Castile, featuring Mudéjar art as architectural style. That's why the ensemble of palaces nowadays looks as if was a time machine transporting you back to the past, a mix of Arab and European influences.
Once you discover the gardens of the palace, along with its fountains, pavilions, green vegetation, palm and orange trees and living legends and myths at its every corner, you'll realize why world-famous directors couldn't resist the seductive power of this impressive place.
The gardens of Royal Alcazar
2. Plaza De Espana – the Imposing Spanish Square
The Plaza de España (“Spanish Square”) is located in Maria Luisa Park, only 15 minutes walking distance from the Old Town center where the Royal Alcazar and the Seville Cathedral are located. It is an impressive 50.000 m2 square designed by the Seville architect Aníbal González for the purpose of the 1929 Ibero-American Exposition which took place in Seville.
The Square is a combination of Art Deco, Moorish and Renaissance Revival styles with Baroque elements, which makes it unique and incredibly appealing to the eye of every spectator. The square has also been used as a filming location for the movie Lawrence of Arabia and the Episode II of “Star Wars: Attack of the Clones”.
Plaza de Espana
3. Las Setas De Sevilla – Different, yet Unique
The third place I wanted to point out is located in the old quarter of Seville, at the square “Plaza de la Encarnación”. Las Setas de Sevilla, also known as the Mushrooms of the Incarnation, is the largest wooden structure in the world, in the shape of the mushroom. The building itself is made up of several areas, each of them with different purpose, but what I liked the most is the Mirador – the viewpoint from where you can admire the entire Seville.
Las Setas de Sevilla
SEE YOU NEXT TIME, SEVILLE
As a final word, I'd like to mention that Seville is not a type of city that you can visit in a day. Once you start exploring Seville, it embraces you, and you constantly feel like you want more of it. I don't think it's due to its beauty – I'd rather say it's because of the vibes you get and the spirit of the city itself.
You'll find the whole article on my website, until then - stay tuned!
