Activities in Sevilla

1. What to do

**The Cathedral, the Giralda and the Alcázar.** The Cathedral of Santa María de la Sede was built over Sevilla's main mosque and is the largest Gothic church in the world, according to the city's guides. From its Muslim origin it keeps the minaret, the Giralda, now the cathedral's bell tower, visible from almost every corner of the centre. Beside the cathedral stands the Archivo General de Indias, which holds the records of the administration of America. The Real Alcázar, of Islamic origin and reformed in later centuries, is still the official residence of the royal family when it visits Sevilla and is the oldest royal palace still in use in Europe. Its courtyards, halls and gardens need time: it is not a quick visit.

**Santa Cruz and the old town.** The Santa Cruz district, the old Jewish quarter, is walked through narrow streets, small squares and courtyards. There stand the Casa de Pilatos, one of the best examples of Andalusian civil architecture, and the Hospital de los Venerables, a Baroque complex that now houses the Centro Velázquez. Plaza del Triunfo, Plaza Virgen de los Reyes and Calle Mateos Gago form the natural route between the Cathedral and the Alcázar. Nearby are the church of El Divino Salvador, the largest in Sevilla after the cathedral, and Plaza Nueva, with the Town Hall.

**Plaza de España and Parque de María Luisa.** The Plaza de España was built for the 1929 Ibero-American Exposition, designed by Aníbal González, and was the event's main building. Its plan is a semicircle open towards the park, with a canal crossed by four bridges and 48 tiled benches, one per province, each with its map and a historical scene. The Parque de María Luisa, romantic gardens donated to the city in 1893, surrounds the square and houses the Archaeological Museum. The Jardines de Murillo, beside the Alcázar, and the Paseo de Colón, beside the river, complete the walk in this area.

**Triana and the river.** Crossing the Guadalquivir by the Puente de Triana reaches the Triana district, with its own identity, Calle Betis facing the river, Calle Pureza, the food market and the ceramics tradition. The Torre del Oro, beside the river, houses the Naval Museum. The river is walked along its banks and travelled by boat, on leisure trips departing from the centre. Triana is not a stage set: it is a lived-in district, with its bars, shops and market, and should be visited with the same respect as any inhabited neighbourhood.

**Viewpoints, museums and districts.** The Setas de Sevilla, the popular name for the Metropol Parasol, in Plaza de la Encarnación, is a modern wooden structure serving as a viewpoint over the old town. The Museo de Bellas Artes, in Plaza del Museo, holds Sevillian painting, and the Centro Andaluz de Arte Contemporáneo, in the Cartuja monastery, and CaixaForum Sevilla complete the museum offer. The Alameda de Hércules, north of the centre, is the area for strolling and terraces at night. The Maestranza bullring, on the Paseo de Colón, offers guided visits to its museum: check the current offer before going.

**A trip out of the city.** The Itálica Archaeological Site, in Santiponce, a few kilometres north of Sevilla, is a Roman city founded in 206 BC, with an amphitheatre, streets, baths and houses with mosaics. It is a half-day trip from Sevilla, not a place inside the city: Santiponce is a different municipality. The metropolitan lines M-170A and M-170B connect Sevilla with Santiponce.

2. Seasonal notes

Spring is Sevilla's great season: Semana Santa, with brotherhood processions through the centre, and the Feria de Abril, at the Real de la Feria in the Los Remedios district, with casetas, lanterns, sevillanas and flamenco dresses. Neither has a fixed date: Semana Santa depends on the Easter calendar and the Feria is held after it, so in some years it falls partly in May. The exact dates each year should be checked with the Ayuntamiento de Sevilla.

Summer is hot and walking is best in the morning and late afternoon, with water, a hat and shade, and interiors — cathedral, Alcázar, museums — as shelter in the middle hours. Autumn and winter are milder for walking, and the centre is visited with fewer people than in spring. The Plaza de España and the Parque de María Luisa are enjoyed outdoors all year round, as are the river and Triana.

3. Practical notes

This page gives general information. It does not verify opening hours, prices or specific services of any place.

• **Book the great monuments in advance.** The Cathedral and the Real Alcázar are the city's busiest visits: check the current ticket and opening hours on their official websites before going, because both change.
• **Do not trust old hours or prices.** This page deliberately gives none: old guides and blogs give different figures for the same places. Each monument's official website is the only valid source on the day of the visit.
• **Respect places of worship.** The Cathedral is a church in use: follow staff directions, keep quiet where asked and respect worship areas.
• **Comfortable shoes and water.** The old town is walked, over cobbled streets and squares: wear comfortable shoes, carry water in summer and take care of belongings in the busiest areas.
• **Triana and Santa Cruz are inhabited districts.** Walk through them as a visitor, not as a spectator: respect residents, do not block doorways or narrow streets and do not enter private courtyards.
• **Check the Feria before travelling.** The Real de la Feria is in Los Remedios, across the river: if travelling in spring, confirm that year's dates with the Ayuntamiento, because they change every year.