Next up on my very typical tour through Spain…Sevilla! Wow, what a city. I loved every moment, even when it was rainy and I was tired. And even when my memory card failed during my visit to Real Alcazar.
P.S. This is going to be a loooooong trip report.
PLAZA DE ESPAÑA
My first stop, after a very gracious early check in at my hotel, was the Plaza de España. I wasn’t really sure what to expect, but OMG this place is so cool! On the surface, it just looks like a semi-circular structure around a pretty fountain. But look closer and you’ll find all sorts of beautiful details.
CASA DE PILATOS
If this could be my house…well, I’d be really happy. From the central courtyard to the incredible amount of azulejos tiles, everything about this house is gorgeous.
METROPOL PARASOL
This is an interesting plot of modern sculpture in the middle of and old district of Sevilla. It’s cool, and you can walk around on it. The only thing…because I visited in December, there were the same handful of Holiday songs blaring over loud speakers. I feel really bad for the people who live within earshot of this place during the holidays.
REAL ALCÁZAR DE SEVILLA
And now the star of the show, Real Alcázar de Sevilla! Its history is fascinating – read about it here. While exploring the palace and gardens, I couldn’t help but imagine what it must have been like to live here. Honestly, I cannot imagine it…I’m a simple girl and this place is just so opulent.
As mentioned previously, on my first visit my memory card went bad. Unfortunately, I didn’t notice until after leaving. Darn. Luckily, i was able to get in early the next morning (first in line!) and was even able to avoid crowds in the most popular palace rooms.
BARRIO SANTA CRUZ
Yes, I was a super tourist during my time in Sevilla. But there’s a reason why everyone loves visiting Barrio Santa Cruz…it is stunningly beautiful. The streets are labyrinthine, homes are charming, and there are lots of hidden plazas and points of interest.
Barrio Santa Cruz was once the Jewish quarter (Juderia). At one point, the Jewish population lived with relative freedom. At a later point, they were driven out and sometimes murdered if they did not convert to Christianity. After all of the Jewish population was driven out, this area was left to deteriorate. In the 18th century, the neighborhood went through a major renewal and has now become one of the most touristed areas of Sevilla.
TRIANA
Across the river from the main city area of Sevilla sits the neighborhood of Triana. Residents of this neighborhood are said to have a strong sense of local identity – sometimes going as far as saying that they are residents of Triana, not Sevilla. After walking around this lovely area, I can understand that sentiment!
EXPO '92 SITE
Unfortunately, the weather really took a turn while I was visiting the Expo ‘92 site. It was cloudy, windy and threatening to rain for hours. Not great light for photography, but it was super cool to walk through this area. Back in 1992, this expo was organized to celebrate the 500th anniversary of Columbus’ “discovery” of the Americas. Anyway, the theme of the expo was “The Age of Discovery” which meant lots of futuristic, sci-fi structures were built. And apparently never removed. Today, you can walk around and admire all of it, though some buildings are now fenced off.
There is so much more to Sevilla than what you’re seeing here. It is truly one of the great cities. If you ever get a chance to visit, you’re a lucky person.