Summary. Seville, Spain, or "Sevilla," as it is known in Spanish, is a romantic City filled with Flamenco dancers, tapas bars, and Moorish architecture. As Seville is located in Southern Spain, the weather can be quite hot during the summer, though there are plenty of evening activities and refreshing Sangria available to make up for the heat. Our favorite sight to see was the Real Alcazar, a lovely mix of Moorish, Gothic and Renaissance architecture that, in and of itself, tells the history of this beautiful City. Another "must do," is attending a Flamenco show. TV or movies really do not do it justice as much of what you see are facial expressions and subtle movements. There are less expensive options available if you skip shows that also serve dinner. Afterwards, stroll the romantic streets of Bario Santa Cruz in the cool evening air.
Real Alcazar. Upon arriving in Seville from Madrid, we dropped our bags at our AirBnB, shopped for food at the local market and then headed out to the Real Alcazar. This is a "must do," while in Seville. The Reales Alcázares de Sevilla is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In it's current form, the Real Alcazar dates back to the Reconquest of 1248 when Christian forces took back Seville after more than five Centuries of Moorish rule.
A perfect symbol of Spain's "Golden Age," this former royal palace was built on a mosque where, in addition to the retained Muslim architecture, the buildings are also built with a mixture of Gothic and Renaissance style.
Tickets to the Real Alcazar also include Antiquarium [archaeological site that remains from the Roman period in Seville], Bellver Museum-Casa Fabiola [history of Seville during the 19th century], Triana Ceramics Museum [history of the pottery tradition in Triana], Castle of San Jorge [ruins with exhibit].
Outside the buildings are the Palace's manicured grounds where peacocks wander between hedges and tourists.
From the Real Alcazar we headed over to the Iglesia del Divino Salvador. While not nearly as large as the Cathedral, the Iglesia del Divino Salvador (Church of the Savior) is equally grand with an impressive collection of gold alters. Tip: Skip the long ticket line at the Seville Cathedral by purchasing one ticket for both churches at the Iglesia del Divino which are within walking distance of each other.
Next we headed over to the Seville Cathedral. This 16th Century Gothic, Roman Catholic church holds the tomb of Christopher Columbus. It is also impressive in it's own right, spanning over 124,000 sq ft.
The day ended with tapas in Bario Santa Cruz. This neighborhood, where our AirBnB is located is lovely. Take time to walk the streets, stop for a drink, or window shop.