Sightseeing Sevilla
A city bursting with heritage and history
Jan 15, 2000 - 8:21 AM
Sightseeing Sevilla
A city bursting with heritage and history
Jan 15, 2000 - 8:21 AM
The capital of Andalucía, on the banks of the Guadalquivir River, is a city which is bursting with heritage and a history dating back for more than 2,500 years. According to mythology, it was founded by Hercules and it was known during Roman times as ‘Hispalis’. It was of huge importance during the Moorish occupation and its port was the gateway to the Indies after the Reconquest and the discovery of the Americas.
Sevilla’s massive, world heritage Cathedral, with the tomb of Christopher Columbus, was built on the site of the former great mosque and is one of the largest cathedrals in the world. Its famous Giralda bell tower was originally a minaret. The Patio de los Naranjos is the only other part of the cathedral which still remains from the mosque. It has five naves and is the largest gothic building in Europe.
The Royal Alcázar, Sevilla’s royal palace close to the Cathedral, forms part of the monumental complex right in the heart of the city which has been granted world heritage status by UNESCO. It was originally a Moorish fort which was built by the first Caliph of Andalucía on a former Roman site. Other palaces were added over the course of the centuries, making this beautiful group of palatial buildings and gardens a true blend of cultures. It’s the Spanish royal family’s residence in Sevilla and is the oldest royal palace still in use in Europe.
The third monument in the UNESCO site is the Archivo de Indias, a 16th Century building which was designed by the architect who created El Escorial in Madrid, Juan de Herrera, as the city’s merchants’ exchange, the Lonja. It became the Archive of the Indies in the late 18th Century to house all documentation relating to the New World. More than 43,000 documents making up some 80 million pages are stored there, occupying 8 kilometres of shelving.
Sevilla’s famous ‘Torre del Oro – the Golden Tower’, the symbol of the city on the banks of the Guadalquivir, was built during the Moorish rule at the start of the 13th Century. It’s a 12-sided military watchtower which was built to protect Sevilla from attack from the river and was once part of the city’s walls. It’s now a naval museum.
The Ibero-American Exposition which was held in Sevilla in 1929 has left its mark on the city we know today. The extraordinary Plaza de España, the massive ‘square’ at one end of the Parque de María Luisa, was built for the Expo and is a wonderful sight to see.
For a modern building, there’s nothing more striking than the Metropol Parasol, in Plaza de la Encarnación, which claims to be the largest functioning wooden structure in the world. It houses an archaeological museum displaying ancient ruins which were found on site, a farmers’ market, restaurants and shops. It’s known locally as ‘Las setas de la Encarnación’ – ‘Encarnación’s mushrooms’.
Visit Sevilla over Easter for its Holy Week processions, up to 60 over the period, which are famous across the world and have been held in the city since the 16thCentury. Or for the Feria de Abril, the city’s annual fair. And don’t forget to take in some flamenco shows while you’re there, particularly in some of the flamenco bars in the Triana district.
Sevilla’s massive, world heritage Cathedral, with the tomb of Christopher Columbus, was built on the site of the former great mosque and is one of the largest cathedrals in the world. Its famous Giralda bell tower was originally a minaret. The Patio de los Naranjos is the only other part of the cathedral which still remains from the mosque. It has five naves and is the largest gothic building in Europe.
The Royal Alcázar, Sevilla’s royal palace close to the Cathedral, forms part of the monumental complex right in the heart of the city which has been granted world heritage status by UNESCO. It was originally a Moorish fort which was built by the first Caliph of Andalucía on a former Roman site. Other palaces were added over the course of the centuries, making this beautiful group of palatial buildings and gardens a true blend of cultures. It’s the Spanish royal family’s residence in Sevilla and is the oldest royal palace still in use in Europe.
The third monument in the UNESCO site is the Archivo de Indias, a 16th Century building which was designed by the architect who created El Escorial in Madrid, Juan de Herrera, as the city’s merchants’ exchange, the Lonja. It became the Archive of the Indies in the late 18th Century to house all documentation relating to the New World. More than 43,000 documents making up some 80 million pages are stored there, occupying 8 kilometres of shelving.
Sevilla’s famous ‘Torre del Oro – the Golden Tower’, the symbol of the city on the banks of the Guadalquivir, was built during the Moorish rule at the start of the 13th Century. It’s a 12-sided military watchtower which was built to protect Sevilla from attack from the river and was once part of the city’s walls. It’s now a naval museum.
The Ibero-American Exposition which was held in Sevilla in 1929 has left its mark on the city we know today. The extraordinary Plaza de España, the massive ‘square’ at one end of the Parque de María Luisa, was built for the Expo and is a wonderful sight to see.
Sevilla at night wtih the Golden Tower in the foreground and the Cathedral on the horizon - Photo EFE
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For a modern building, there’s nothing more striking than the Metropol Parasol, in Plaza de la Encarnación, which claims to be the largest functioning wooden structure in the world. It houses an archaeological museum displaying ancient ruins which were found on site, a farmers’ market, restaurants and shops. It’s known locally as ‘Las setas de la Encarnación’ – ‘Encarnación’s mushrooms’.
Visit Sevilla over Easter for its Holy Week processions, up to 60 over the period, which are famous across the world and have been held in the city since the 16thCentury. Or for the Feria de Abril, the city’s annual fair. And don’t forget to take in some flamenco shows while you’re there, particularly in some of the flamenco bars in the Triana district.
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