Things to do in Seville
Seville's mixture of the exuberant and the ancient has captivated many visitors. Simply walking around the city's colourful and picturesque streets is a wonderful way to spend an afternoon and pick up the romantic feel of the place.
The magnificent 15th century cathedral is the starting point for many travellers looking to take in the sights. The enormous building houses a magnificent altar and art collection and, along with three other cathedrals, claims to contain the bones of Christopher Columbus. Also make sure to see the cathedral's minaret, which has become the symbol of the city and one of the few signs of the mosque that originally stood on the site.
Visitors to the city should not leave without taking a trip to see the nearby Alcazar at the Plaza del Triunfo. This beautiful palace has been a fixture of Seville since 913AD, as well as being home to a large number of rulers of both the region and Spain over the years. The remarkable beauty of the building is matched only by the stories connected with the place, including those concerning Pedro I, who built the Alcazar's crowning glory, the Mudejar Palacio de Don Pedro.
Those interested in the history of Spain's former colonies should head to the Archivo de Indias. This 16th-century building was once home to the exchange for Seville's commercial dealings with the Americas but since 1785 has housed the country's largest archive of its American empire. The Archivo's eight kilometres of shelves are quite daunting for even the most committed enthusiast so it is advisable for visitors to go in knowing what you want to find!
The impressive neoclassical-styled building that is Seville's old tobacco factory is also well worth a visit. This enormous edifice, which is now part of the Universidad de Sevilla, was home to Carmen in Bizet's opera and was in operation from the 18th century to the middle of the 20th. It once had its own jail, along with stables for 400 mules and a nursery for the factories' many women workers.
A guide to Seville cannot ignore the popularity of bullfighting in the city. A contentious issue among many from outside the region, bullfighting remains an extremely popular event in Seville and indeed across the entire region of Andalucia. There are over 70 bullrings in the area, with the largest and most popular in Seville. The events draw huge, fervent crowds, which are enough of an attraction for many visitors, who can often find themselves swept up in the atmosphere.
A week of bull fights during the Seville Spring Fair are when Seville's masses really turn out, with the Real Maestranza de Sevilla, which has been staging fights since 1761 and has a capacity of 12,500, the most popular venue.
If the sights and events of Seville prove exhausting, the perfect treat at the end of a holiday is the shimmering Mediterranean, which is around an hour's drive away and will be welcome relief if you have arrived in the summer months, where temperatures can reach up to 36 degrees Celsius.
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Things to do
