My Recommendations Of The Top Five Places To See In Seville

Think Spain think Seville. That’s what the city feels like. Seville is a beautiful diamond among the jewels of Spain. The city is capital of Andalusia region of Spain and is famous for flamingo dancing, Maestranza bullring, Alcázar castle, Plaza de España, and Plaza de Toros de la. The city’s old town hosts 3 UNESCO world heritage sights – Alcázar palace complex, Seville Cathedral and General Archive of the Indies – which were added to the list in 1987.

Like in others cities, I took a walking tour of Seville the first evening I was there. Believe me, the city looks magical by the night. This walking tour was made memorable by our amazing walking tour guide Roxy, who is a part of a small company called “We Are Seville”. She has been one of the most knowledgeable walking tour guides I have come across during my travels. She not only introduced us to Seville but also told us about best places to eat. She also told some of the local delicacies to look out for, also vegetarian. It is very easy to book a tour with her. All you need to do is drop a message on her Whatsapp and look for her red umbrella in front of Torre del Oro.

Here is my list of my top 5 places to see in Seville in two days. I urge you not to miss even a single one of these when you are there:

1. Royal Alcázar Castle: Built by Moorish Muslim kings, Alcázar palace is the royal palace of Seville. It is known to be the most beautiful palace in the whole of Spain and is the oldest palace still in use by any royal family in Europe. The best part of the castle is its gardens with lovely flowers and landscapes. If you’re a Game of Thrones fan, Alcázar is to film the Water Gardens in Dorne. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site which you can enter by paying €9.5. Senior citizens and students can pay €2 as the entry fee.

   

2. Plaza de España: Talk about expansive garden facing façade and this building will be a perfect example. Plaza de España was built in 1928 for hosting  Ibero-American Exposition of 1929. The plaza is built in Renaissance Revival and Moorish Revival styles of Spanish architecture. It is a nice place to relax on a sunny afternoon in front of the grand building and soothing Vicente Traver fountain. Oh by the way! The Plaza has been used in Star Wars Episode II – Attack of the Clones as the planet Naboo. Today the Plaza de España houses many government office and statues which speak of its history. The right-most side of the building showcases murals and paintings dedicated to various regions of Spain. Tourists from other parts of the country love to click selfies near their own regions.

   

3. Seville Cathedral: Also known as the burial ground of Christopher Columbus and his son Diego, Seville Cathedral is a Roman Catholic cathedral built in 1401-1519 on the site of a  former mosque. La Giralda is a tower attached to the Cathedral and was originally built as part of the mosque during Moorish rule. It is the third largest church in the world, and the largest Gothic church and the largest cathedral. Do climb the 37 ramps of La Giralda to get some amazing aerial views of Seville.

   

4. Torre del Oro: ‘The Golden Tower’ was built as a military watchtower in the 13th century to control access to Seville via river Guadalquivir. In middle ages, this tower was used as a prison. Today it stands as a landmark for Seville. Watch out for Roxy’s red umbrella here for a free walking tour of the city. Watch the sun going down in background. I couldn’t get enough of it.

   

5. Metropol Parasol: Constructed in crossed wooden beams Metropol Parasol – also known as the Mushroom – is the largest wooden structure in the world. It is located in the old quarter of Seville. Metropol Parasol was built in 2011 to revive Plaza de la Encarnación, which earlier was a car parking. Find the entrance to the top of this building and you can get a free drink with amazing city views.

   

My trip to Spain couldn’t have been complete without keeping this beautiful city in my itinerary. If you want to soak in the beauty of this wonderful place, a walk around the streets is a must. What attracted me most about this city were its architecture, vibrancy, history, and youthful energy. Want to visit Seville? Do not forget to carry your enthusiasm and cheerful self with you.