Seville

Where to eat?
Bodego dos de Mayo – Tapas bar recommended by a local and frequented by locals. Great place to have a
tapas dinner and sangria.
Amorino Gelato ‘knows what they are doing when it comes to gelato. Easily the best chocolate gelato I
have ever had’

Things to see:
1) Real Alcázar of Seville- The Royal Palace – need to book ticket in advance
- Note that they have free admission on Monday

2) Seville Cathedral (1hr)

- You do have to pay to get into the cathedral and the bell tower known as the Giralda.
- You can book online
- Seville’s Cathedral is the largest Gothic cathedral in the world.
- Christopher Columbus is buried in this cathedral and there is a very ornate tomb here. There
actually is some debate about whether all of Columbus’ remains are in Seville or if some of the
remains are in the Dominican Republic.
- After exploring the cathedral, don’t miss the chance to go to the Giralda. The name “giralda” comes
from the huge 4 m tall weather vane that sits on top of the tower. The Giralda was built as a minaret
for The Great Mosque of Seville that originally occupied this site. It’s one of the best examples of
Moorish architecture that remain in Spain today.
- Unlike many bell towers, this one was built with ramps going all the way to the top. There are
multiple windows you can look out of on the way up for views over the city and cathedral. The
rooftop of the cathedral has plenty of gargoyles to spot. At the top, it gets a bit crowded with
everyone wanting to stand in the windows for photos but the view is gorgeous.
- Upon descending from the Giralda, you enter into the courtyard known as Patio de los Naranjos.
This gorgeous courtyard full of orange trees is one of the elements that was preserved from the
mosque’s layout.

3) Triana
- It’s located across the river from sights like the cathedral and Real Alcazar. At one time it was known
as Seville’s gypsy neighbourhood, now, it’s full of restaurantsand bars. If you visit, a stroll along
the Calle Betis along the waterfront will give you many options for lunch and views of Seville. You
can also find the Triana Market here if you are looking for some fresh fruit or tapas.
- After having lunch here, walk along the waterfront on the Seville side of the river towards the
Parque de Maria Luisa and Plaza de Espana. Along the walk, you will pass the Torre del Oro, a
defensive tower built-in 1220. It is a bit of a long walk but it is enjoyable to walk along the river. If
you aren’t up for the walk, you can skip Triana and get a carriage ride from the square outside of the
Seville Cathedral.

4) Plaza de Espana and Maria Luisa Park

- Maria Luisa Park is a huge park and there are many trails to wander through here. With multiple
extravagant fountains, this park has a lot to discover. You can also find the aquarium and
archaeology museum at the far end of the park. The main reason tourists visit here is the Plaza de
Espana.
- The Plaza de Espana is a large semi-circle square that was originally built for the 1929 World Fair.
Now, it acts as offices for government offices.
- The Provincial Alcoves are tiled images that represent each of the 8 provinces of Spain and depict
what is unique about them.
- If you find yourself feeling like the Plaza de Espana looks familiar, it was used in Star Wars Episode 2
to stand in as a city on Naboo.

5) Catch the Sunset from the Top of the Metropol Parasol

- It claims to be the largest wooden structure in the world. Its other common name is Setas de
Seville or Mushrooms of Seville.
- I recommend checking what time the sunset is and then trying to get to the Metropol Parasol
about 45 minutes before that. It is a popular location to watch the sunset from so there was quite a
lineup to get in and go up the elevator. You get a great view of the city from the top of the parasol. It
also looks really interesting when they turn on the coloured lights at nighttime.