Seville: City of Romance, Gypsy Lovers, Cruel and Powerful Kings, and Historic Restaurants
Seville, or Sevilla as it is known to Spaniards, is the largest city in Andalucia and is inextricably linked to romance, in both fact and fiction. The 1830 version of this incredibly exciting city is the setting for the popular French opera Carmen, that features the romantic fictional adventures of the beautiful gypsy, Carmen. Seville City, land of love, adventure and larger-than-life struggles for power, was also the inspiration for events in one of the Canterbury tales. The real Seville and the Seville of legend are one and the same.
When you walk the pulsating streets, visit the famous sites, watch a flamenco show, see a bullfight, and frequent the tapas bars and restaurants you’ll meld into the same tales.
Seville's Attractions and Sights
THE ALCAZAR OF SEVILLE is an UNESCO World Heritage site that was built in the 14th century. It was built in the Moorish style, for the King of Castille, Pedro the Cruel, to rule from and live in with his mistress Maria de Padilla. This site is actually at the centre of much more interesting events, however, as Pedro the Cruel (also known as Pedro or Peter the Lawful) was actually so in love with his mistress, that he even married her in secret.
The ousting of this ruler was enough of an event to be chronicled by Chaucer in the Canterbury Tales, mournfully, as Chaucer’s patron actually backed Pedro de Castille in a war that would end in his untimely death. The end of Pedro’s rule was also something of a beginning; it set off events that would cause an epic, several centuries long struggle between the Castilian aristocracy and monarchy.
When you visit the Alcazar you’ll see courtyards, gardens and additions that have been built in the intervening centuries. Every bit of the history is frozen into everlasting architectural memory.
SEVILLE CATHEDRAL is the largest Gothic cathedral in the world, and one of the largest Christian churches. It boasts having the longest, most dramatic central approach to its altar in the world, and everywhere is glinting with gold.
THE TORO DEL ORO - This “gold tower” is a 13th century watchtower with 12 sides. It was a bastion that fell to conquerors of the city. In the past, it has served as a prison, but is now a wonderful naval museum. Don't miss out on this!
SEMANA SANTA - Seville's Holy Week processions are famous throughout the world. Brotherhoods, dressed in traditional vestments and pointed hoods, process through the city's streets carrying floats (pasos), with statues of Christ or the Virgin Mary on top, from their church to Seville Cathedral. Click here to read more about the celebrations and to watch a video.
SEVILLE FERIA - Seville's feria, or Spring Fair, comes just 2 weeks after Semana Santa and is a week of "serious" celebrating. The actual fairground, the "Real de la Feria", covers around 1.2 million square metres and is the focus of eating, drinking, dancing and music which can go on all night. Visit Seville's feria to see the dance of the Sevillanas (dancing to traditional folk music), traditional costume (flamenco dresses and gypsy dresses) and to party!
Dining Out in Seville
EL RINCONCILLO is located next to the Santa Catalina Church and offers fantastic views of the structure. This is the oldest tapas bar in all of Seville, with a history that begins in 1670. Today, it has a “new” restaurant as wel,l whose ownership goes back 8 generations to the 1800’s. Even its restorations date back to1898, when another floor and attic were added.
Moorish tiles, and a mahogany bar are part of the centuries of history you will find in the architecture of this quaint establishment.
Here, you can eat tasty venison stew, creamed spinach with chickpeas, and other Andalucian and Mozararabic classic meals, although the restaurant maintains its new recipes are just as tasty.
Bullfighting and Flamenco
Two arts, one feminine and one masculine, but both full of costumes. Arts from a bygone era, using dramatic poses to tell their tales. Both bullfighting and flamenco are part of Seville’s cultural roots and history.
Seville is one of the original homes of flamenco, and today’s shows are spectacles that still show the Andalucian, gypsy, Islamic and Sepharidic roots of the mesmerising art form. Seville is also home to the Plaza de Toros de la Maestranza, one of the best venues in Spain, if not THE best, for bullfghting.
Seville is a city that pulsates to the old and the new. It’s a city where romance and history meet modern living, and where many ages and cultures are mixed seamlessly as time goes on.
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