Romantic and beautiful, the traditional Spanish way of life still thrives here with siestas, bull fights, flamenco and fiestas all part of the laid back way of life.

Capital of the Andalusia region of Southern Spain and the countries fourth largest city, Seville is a combination of layers from the numerous civilisations which have colonised this area for over 2 millennia.

Romantic and beautiful, the traditional Spanish way of life still thrives here with siestas, bull fights, flamenco and fiestas all part of the laid back and slow paced way of life for the unpretentious and friendly Sevillians.

Phoenician, Roman, Medieval and most notably Moorish civilisations have all left their unmistakable mark on this attractive city through the ages. The discovery of America elevated the status of Seville to the gateway between the Old and New Worlds for over two centuries and this truly is a melting pot of cultures, knowledge and discovery.

The 17th century saw an explosion of artistic creativity in the city and more recently Seville’s image as a modern and dynamic city was reinforced when Expo 92 was held here.

When To Visit
Despite its size, this city of 700,000 inhabitants retains much tranquillity and charm, surrounded as it is by open countryside which can be seen from much of the city centre. A maze of winding streets, charming squares, grand avenues, palaces, museums and leafy shaded parks all add to the charm.

Temperatures can regularly reach 35+ degrees during July and August, but as Spain’s sunniest city, with over 300 days of sunshine each year, the more comfortable spring and autumn seasons make the perfect times to visit.

Semana Santa is the most famous of all Easter weeks in Spain and one of the best times to visit. The whole city turns out to watch the parade of floats and hooded nazarenos, a truly authentic experience for anyone lucky enough to be visiting at this time.

What To Do
With its pedestrianised city centre Seville is best explored on foot with many of the best attractions within easy walking distance of each other.
The grand gothic cathedral is built on the site of the great mosque which once occupied the site. It’s the largest cathedral in Europe, rivalling St Paul’s and St Peter’s, and is famous for its sheer size and grandeur. The cathedral is also one of the reputed burial places of Christopher Columbus whose tomb is situated inside.

Towering 300 feet above the cathedral is the Giralda, the original minaret of the Almohad main mosque. This minaret, which also served as an observatory, was built just 50 years before the Christian conquest of this region and has become one of the most famous landmarks of the city. It’s well worth the climb for the panoramic views from the top!

Open Spaces
The entire southern end of the city is taken up with a huge expanse of gardens and majestic boulevards. The centre of this area is the Parque de Maria Luisa, which was built for the Spanish-American exhibition of 1929 and is one of the loveliest parks in Europe. Stretching for half a mile through the city and filled with exotic palms, orange trees and Mediterranean pines, a leisurely stroll will reward you with beautifully landscaped vistas brimming with flowers, ponds and pavilions.

Numerous other buildings were also built for the 1929 exhibition and bordering the park is the magnificent Plaza de Espana which is reputed to be Spain's most beautiful square. This huge semi circular building frames a massive fountain at the centre and was constructed to showcase Spain’s technological and industrial exhibits.

If the building looks familiar that is because the bridge was used in scenes from Star Wars: Attack of the Clones.

Museums
Seville is also home to many important museums which provide interesting information about the city. The Museo de Bellas Artes is one of the finest museums in Andalusia and there are numerous art galleries in Seville, including the Hospital de los Venerables, which features a large collection of paintings and is in the Santa Cruz district.

Shopping and Tourism
The Western area of the city, called El Arenal, was once home to the old port and contains the Plaza de Toros de la Maestranzas, a large and imposing bull ring, and the striking Moorish tower, called Torre del Oro, which was built in the13th century to protect the port area.

This area is also home to the Teatro de la Maestranza, a modern theatre and opera house and a host of excellent restaurants and watering holes.

To the East of the city centre is the Santa Cruz area which is probably the most picturesque part of Seville. Here you can find the bustling Calle de las Sierpres which is a Mecca for local shoppers and tourists alike.

Venture North and you will find La Macarena with its Baroque and Mudejar churches, traditional tapas bars - which are not to be missed! - and the Calle de la Feria, a small, lively shopping street where you can hunt for local bargains.

There are several tourist offices situated in the city centre where you will find excellent up to date information on attractions, museums, festivals and local events in the area.  

Gay Seville
Smaller than Madrid or Barcelona, Seville’s gay scene still has much to offer with a varied, medium sized scene of bars, clubs, saunas and restaurants.

The local gay and lesbian community swells with ranks of visitors in the tourist season and is largely accepted, although some attitudes - predominantly of the older generations   are not as progressive. This said the gay and lesbian traveller should encounter no problems in Seville and will be sure of a warm welcome wherever they go.

For more information on the gay and lesbian venues in Seville visit www.gayseville.com.


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