Out & About

» Out & About in Sevilla

Legend claims that Hercules founded the city of Sevilla. While many argue this tale, the truth is that Sevilla is an amazing city packed with entertaining opportunities. No trip to Andalusia is complete without a visit to this glorious city.

During your trip to Sevilla, you should visit El Arenal, Santa Cruz, Real Alcázar, and then the outlying areas. Plan your visit carefully, you will not want to miss anything!

Churches & Historical Monuments:

El Arenal is area that used to be the old port where ammunitions and artillery were stored. El Arenal is the area where bullfighting is widely celebrated.

Hospital de la Caridad dates back to the late 1600s when the charity hospital opened its doors. The architectural details on the interior of the building are impressive, and the outdoor gardens delight many. Today, the hospital houses many elderly and infirm men and women. It is open to the public.

Iglesia de la Magdalena is open seven days a week. Built in the 18th century, the church is undergoing restorations. Highlights of Iglesia de la Magdalena include a brightly painted belfry, paintings by many Spanish artists, large cupolas, and amazing frescos.

Plaza de Toros de la Maestranza, built in the 1700s, is Sevilla’s bullring. It happens to be one of the oldest bullrings in all of Spain. The bullfighting season runs from April to September.

Santa Cruz is a small area of narrow, winding streets that sits to the east of the Sevilla Cathedral. Santa Cruz is where the poor Jewish residents made their homes.

Ayuntamiento houses the current city hall. Built in the 16th century, Ayuntamiento offers visitors with a sampling of architectural styles from Plateresque to Neo-Classic. Velázquez’s famous “Impostion of the Chasuble on St. Ildefonso” is located within the building.

Visitors enter Casa de Pilatos through a gorgeous marble archway. The palace features lavish gardens, courtyards, and many antiques that date back to 16th century.

Hospital de los Venerables is the former home of elder Spanish priests. The hospital opened in the late 1600s after more than twenty years of construction. Visitors are welcome to take a guided tour through the hospital from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm or 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm daily.

Sevilla Cathedral dates back to the 1100s. Built from the remains of a mosque, the cathedral features impressive structures that visitors enjoy viewing. La Giralda, a large bell tower topped with a bronze weathervane, is one of the cathedral’s important features. Retablo Mayor, a replica of Santa Maria de la Sede, is a valuable piece of art. More than 40 gilded panels help form the Retablo Mayor.

Real Alcázar dates back to the 1360s when Pedro I asked for a royal residence to be constructed within the current palace called Real Alcázar. This area features many elaborate homes and gardens.

Gardens of the Alcázar contains tranquil terraces and water features. Those looking for some quiet come to the gardens to meditate or listen to the songbirds.

The Horseshoe Arches lead into the Ambassador’s Hall. The arches feature impressive period decorations.

Patio de las Doncellas is an interior patio that features the work of some of Granada’s best craftsmen.

The Rooms of Charles V contain many 16th century tapestries and works of art created from tiles.

Salón de Embajadores is a 15th century dome made from wood and then gilded.

Also within Sevilla’s borders, you should take time to visit Palacio de San Telmo. The palace was once used to train ship pilots and navigators. The outdoor garden is filled with fragrant orange trees. The palace is undergoing renovations, so sections may be closed off to the public.

Parque María Luisa is a large piece of land adjacent to Palacio de San Telmo. The park is home to many important features.

Glorieta de Bécquer’s arbor and gardens were constructed in honor of Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer, a Spanish poet. This area is one of the more romantic hideaways in Sevilla.

Isleta de los Patos is a small pond that serves as a home to many swans and ducks.

Plaza de España is a huge outdoor terrace that resembles an outdoor theater. It has housed exhibitions including the Ibero-American Exhibition.

Once a cigar factory, Universidad offers public tours Monday through to Friday. The former factory is now part of Sevilla University.

Triana is the former gypsy quarter. Its biggest feature is the Carthusian Monasterio. Built in the 1400s, the monastery houses a contemporary art museum.

Dining:

There are hundreds of restaurants, cafes, bakeries, and bars where patrons can have a meal. With so many establishments, it can be hard to pick! Here is a sampling of choices:

• Coloniales offers some of the greatest tapas in the city.  Tapas selections often include mushrooms stuffed with chorizo, pork cooked in brandy, or grilled chorizo.  Tapas rarely costs more than €3.00 per plate and portions are large.
• Egaña Oriza is an upper-scale establishment that serves traditional Basque cuisine. The wild boar is one of the best meals on the menu.
• La Isla is an excellent seafood restaurant. They serve items such as snails, lobster, shrimp, barnacles, and more. The grilled seafood platter is delightful.

Festivals:

Feria de Abril occurs during the end of April. This week long event offers parades, flamenco dancing, carnival rides, bull fighting, parades, food tents, and even drinking (especially sherry).

Semana Santa is Sevilla’s largest festival. For twelve hours, the locals parade Virgin Mary images on floats throughout the town. It celebrates both the Virgin Mary and the arrival of spring.

Museums:

The Archaeological Museum is open to the public Tuesday (2:30 pm to 8:30 pm), Wednesday through to Saturday (9:00 am to 8:30 pm) and Sunday (9:00 am to 2:30 pm). More than twenty-five rooms feature artifacts dating back to prehistoric times.

Archivo de Indias was once the building where Carlos III traded maps for goods. The building is now used as a museum where all the ancient maps of the Indies, letters from Christopher Columbus, and other artifacts from that time are on display.

The Contemporary Art Centre offers exhibits of paintings, sculptures, ceramics, and more. The museum is open seven days a week. Hours of operation are determined by the day of the week and the season.

Museo Artes y Costumbres contains a large collection of art, clothing, musical instruments, and jewellery. Hours are 3:00 – 8:00 pm on Tuesday, 9:00 am to 8:00 pm Wednesday through to Saturday, and 9:00 am to 2:00 pm on Sunday.

Museo de Bellas Artes is located in the centre of town. The museum features some of Spain’s finest works of art. It is open Tuesday (2:30 pm to 8:30 pm), Wednesday through to Saturday (9:00 am to 8:30 pm) and Sunday (9:00 am to 2:30 pm).

Located in El Arenal, Torre del Oro is a former defensive outpost. Built by Almohads in the 1200s, the tower is now a museum that exhibits antiques and maritime maps.

Outdoor Activities:

At Greeen Aerostación, on the outskirts of town, you can pay for a hot air balloon ride that offers exceptional views of all of Sevilla.

Horseback riding is also available in the area. A few establishments offer guided tours of the outlying countryside.

Isla Mágica is a theme park whose most popular ride is “The Jaguar.” This roller coaster travels at more than 80 kilometers per hour. The park opens in the end of March and closes in early November.

Shopping:

No trip to Sevilla is complete without a trip to Santa Cruz’s Calle de las Sierpes. This is Sevilla’s largest shopping area with stores lining both sides of the street. You can find some incredible hats, clothes, and traditional Spanish clothing in the stores along this route.

Also visit Triana where tile workers turn out some amazing pieces of pottery and furniture. Ceramica Santa Ana is a large store where many craftsmen sell their creations.

Flea markets are held on Sundays and Fridays in two locations. You can find some great bargains at these sales.