Rich in culture and sizzling with energy, this historic city of Seville is a feast for the senses.
Looking back on my recent trip to Sevilla it feels like some sort of beautiful daydream, the colourful buildings, lunchtime Rioja and orange tree festooned streets were all just delightful – I loved every minute of every day. I think it is the Spanish light, so bright and clear that it makes everything seem extra special.
Seville is the capital of southern Spain’s Andalusia region. It’s famous for flamenco dancing, delicious tapas and oranges. Major landmarks include the stunning and ornate Alcázar palace complex. Built during the Almohad dynasty it was originally a Moorish fort and is a warren of tranquil courtyards, ornately tiled reception rooms and lush gardens. The orange grove and 16th-century Jardin de las Damas with its fountains and bordered pathway was a delightful respite from the summer heat.
A tour of the 18th-century Plaza de Toros de la Maestranza bullring provides a fascinating, if not gory, insight into the history and traditions of bull fighting. The beautiful Gothic Seville Cathedral is the site of Christopher Columbus’s tomb and the climb up the Giralda; a minaret turned bell tower is worth the effort with marvellous views over the city.
But while history reverberates all around, Seville is as much about the here and now as the past. It’s about eating tapas in a crowded bar or seeing out the end of the day over a drink on a buzzing plaza. The Sevillanos have long since mastered the art of celebrating and the city’s great annual festivals, notably the Semana Santa and Feria de Abril, are among Spain’s most heartfelt.
Situated on the river Guadalquivir, Seville has been home to Carmen, Don Juan and Figaro. Muslim and Jewish art can be seen throughout the royal palace of Alcazar. It is a contagiously romantic city whose celebratory ambiance pervades Seville’s winding streets and spills out of the bars and tapas parlors of Santa Cruz formerly the Jewish quarter of medieval Seville.
I could go back to visit Seville tomorrow, there is so much to see and do!
This article was published in the Coffs Coast Advocate on 7 October 2017.
