Sevilla ❤️



So, as we had come to expect, it was raining when we arrived in Seville - totally unusual for the city at this time of the year, but par for the course for us 😃 We didn’t let that get in the way, got out there, and fortunately the sun came out 🌞

Stayed at a motorhome park down by the port, about 1.5k from centre. Not the most salubrious of places, but secure, so safe to leave rubes - a bit of a trek backwards and forwards - Uber was very helpful 😃

Spent a few hours when first arrived finding out feet and getting oriented. Headed to the beautiful Maria Luisa park, but got chased out by the police  as they were closing it due to high winds (apparently someone was killed, speared by a fallen branch a few years ago, so cation prevails 😃)  Anyway, still managed to enter the famous Plaza de Espana at the far end - totally stunning 🤩 Built for the Iberian-American Exposition of 1929.


Detail highlighting different regions across Spain




Plaza de Espana
Pleased we had made it to Sevilla and that it had stopped raining 😉



Spent some time exploring Triana, the barrio famous for the home of flamenco dancers, bullfighters, and ceramic artists. Called in at Bar Santa Ana, an institution - famous for the numerous religious pictures lining the walls, apparently gifts from customers - traditional local culture 😃

Interesting to see Cruzcampo zero on draft


Opting for full strength Cruzcampo at the famous Triana bar



Following day we had an Airbnb Experience tour booked around the barrio Barrio Santa Cruz - the former Jewish quarter. Carmen Maria was our guide - born and still lives in Sevilla, a graduate in History - perfect 🤩 Only us 2 booked on, so a private tour 👍 Fascinating hearing about the historical religious divisions within the city, the protection of the Jews by the Catholic King Ferdinand III and Queen Isabelle I, old legends and folklore, the Spanish Inquisition, and the subsequent horrendous massacre.of Jews. Narrow streets to keep cool, beautiful buildings, colourful mosaics, interesting plazas and orange trees in full fruit.

Santa Cruz District

Alcazar walls adjacent to Santa Cruz - reflects the former closeness of the King in protecting the Jewish population 


Santa Cruz

Beautiful little plazas, colourful tiles, and orange trees for shade

The Alcazar Palace is spectacular, mostly decor from the Moorish heritage. Although Christian now, even when the catholic reign took over, and parts of the palace adapted, much of the Muslim decoration was kept, interspersed with Christian symbols - an indication that the new regime honoured the past, and promoted living in harmony with tolerance of other faiths. 


Central area within the Alcazar

Water gardens of the Alcazar


Within the Alcazar

Alcazar - concubine rooms at the top


The Cathedral too is spectacular, huge! Interesting that the Geralda Tower (bell tower) was built for the Great Mosque of Seville under the Moorish occupancy, but with a Renaissance style belfry added by the Catholics after the expulsion of the Muslims. 

Sevilla Cathedral

Geralda Tower

Cathedral


Booked a tapas, wine and bar tour for the evening- again nobody else booked on, so just me, Dave and Assia our guide - an interesting young woman of mixed Turkish and French heritage, now living in, and totally loving Sevilla 😃 Assia took us to favourite local tapas bars and restaurants, and introduced us to delicacies we didn’t even know existed 👍

Dried salted tuna - absolutely delicious 😀
 

Fried Shark


Pork belly & cerveza with our guide Assia


Tortas with avocado & tomato, and with curried chicken - from the famous Ines Rosales bakery




Alcazar at night


Beautiful street in Santa Cruz with hanging creepers from balconies


Street named Verde


Assia introduced us to a great local flamenco bar - free of charge, just buy drinks - unfortunately the main performance was just finishing when we arrived - but did look amazing - one for a future visit 😀




Torre del Oro, the military watchtower built to guard entry into Sevilla up the Guadalquiver River




Most famous shop to buy shoes for the annual Feria which takes place every April. Two weeks of dancing, eating, drinking and partying celebrations 😂


Most famous shop to buy dresses for the annual Feria


Horse drawn carriages ferrying people around the city



Tomb containing ashes of Cristobel Colon (Christopher Columbus) in the Catherdral - leaving Sevilla to discover the Americas 


Churros.....yum 😂


Beautiful panaderia and pastelleria shops - we sampled a few 😂


The Setes
Six large mushroom shaped parasols, incredibly all made of wood - totally unique art structure




A totally amazing city 😃 There are not many cities that Dave and I enjoy spending more than a couple of days at a time in,  but Sevilla is definitely one of them - we totally loved it! All our guides were fabulous, each passionate about the city, with interesting and different anecdotes and stories, which helped to bring the city to life and for us to really understand how the past has shaped the present. Their passion was infectious, and we loved how beautiful, and to an extent, how laid back the city felt. It was a quiet time of year, tourism wise - think that created additional appeal 🤣 And if you love good food and drink (which we do) then Sevilla is for you!

There is still so much more to see and experience - we have barely scratched the surface 😃

Hasta Luego  ❤️❤️❤️






Comments

  1. Sarah22 December 2022 at 09:41

    Just caught up your last few weeks. A great read and lovely to have photos to illustrate all the sights and experiences . Bad luck about that rain . Rob Harrison's son is in Madrid and reports awful floods and torrential rain. Sounds as tho the weather has perked up in Seville and what a fabulous city to explore . We wish you and very Happy Christmas and looking forward to the next instalment! xxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jane24 December 2022 at 07:41

      And a happy Christmas to you all too 🎄

      Delete
  2. Anonymous24 December 2022 at 05:43

    Enjoy your Christmas and New Year, see you in 2023. John, Debbie and Archie x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jane24 December 2022 at 07:42

      Thanks, hope you all have a good festive season too 🎄

      Delete
  3. Erica Bradley3 January 2023 at 09:22

    Only just catching up 😳lovely to read about your adventures & great photos 👍

    ReplyDelete

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