In the old city tourists would like to visit the Cathedral and Giralda Tower at its hearth. The enormous Cathedral stands on the ground where a Mosque of the 12th century took place. It covers an area of 11,520 square meters with a central nave that rises 42 meters to the sky and side chapels as tall as an ordinary church with monuments of successive ages. The decoration is simple and there is a perfect balance between its parts. La Giralda Tower was the minaret of the mosque previous to the cathedral and as the Lonely Planet on its Spain guide accurately describes it: Its proportions, delicate patterned brick decoration and colour which changes with the light, make it perhaps the most perfect Islamic building in Spain. There are some additions made to the building by the Christians and opinion is divided on whether it has improved or spoiled the tower.

Another important sight is the Patio de los Naranjos, it was once the courtyard of the mosque and it is called the Orange Patio due to the fact that it has a plantation of over 60 orange trees.

Very close by are the Royal Mujedar Palace known as the Alcazar and the Santa Cruz quarter. In regards to the Alcazar, there are several versions of the history of this place. Some affirm the Alcazar was built by Muslim rulers in the 10th century and others say it was King Pedro the cruel using Moorish workmen. Anyways it has been adapted and enlarged in many occasion depending on the monarchs. Surely this beautiful place with its rooms, chambers, patios and gardens can not be missed. On the other hand, the Santa Cruz quarter was the medieval Jewish quarter of Seville. It is a picturesque neighbourhood with narrow streets and whitewashed houses.

El archivo de indias is a very important place as well because it is the main archive on the conquest and colonisation of America. It houses over 40 million documents dating from 1492 through to the end of the empire in the 19th century. Also la Casa de Pilatos is a very interesting place, the first Marquis of Tarifa tried to resemble in this building the palace of Pontius Pilate in Jerusalem. Subsequent owners have contributed to the building over time which has resulted in a nice mixture of diverse architectural styles.

Finally, the city walls and gates as well as the Maria Luisa Park are unmissable. Formerly Seville was a strongly fortified city. The walls were designed not only to defend the city but to prevent floods from the Guadalquivir River. From the original 166 watchtowers and 9 gates only 3 of each of them remain. In terms of gates: Puerta de Cordoba, Puerta Macarena and Postigo del Aceite and towers: Torre de Oro, Torre de Plata and Torre Blanca. The park is a paradise within the city, it is full of palms and orange trees, elms and Mediterranean pines combined with ponds and pavilions.

About the Author:

Gaizka Pujana is the co-owner of Barcelona Homes, S.L. which is a company
specialized in providing short term tenancy solutions in Seville and Barcelona through its
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Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Things That Can Not Be Missed in Seville

Among some of the spectacles performed by the nobility were bullfights on horseback. When bullfighting on foot became popular with the working classes in the late 18th Century, work on Seville’s Maestranza Bullring began and continued for over a century. Its capacity for 12,500 spectators does not make it the largest bullring in the world, but many consider it to be the most beautiful.

The distinctive neo-Classical gleaming white façade with its clean geometric lines and Roman arches outlined in yellow ochre, its elaborately fashioned “Prince’s Gate” (which every matador dreams of exiting triumphantly on the shoulders of the crowd), the golden sand inside the ring, all conspire to make the Maestranza a monumental “plaza de toros” that has given wing to legend, film and theater.

Although the art or ritual of bullfighting might not be fully appreciated by much of the non-Hispanic world, we find evidence of the importance of the horned beast or bovine, considered the supreme god of nature, throughout all cultures of the world. The cave paintings of Altamira in northern Spain confirm the ancient ritual of the sacrifice of this beast in order to insure the survival of the community. It is interesting to note that the modern Spanish fighting bull is a direct descendent of these ancient bovines and would now be extinct if it were not for the bullfight.

In many parts of the world today, we have nothing to compare with this spectacle, so it is important to keep in mind that the Spanish fighting bull is a unique species, following his instincts in the ring to charge anything that moves, regardless of size or color. He has not been trained or manipulated.

He also lives a longer and better life than a steer raised solely to end his life in a slaughterhouse. The matador who confronts the bull is a participant in a drama which, when properly performed, will display the bravery of both man and bull. And the matador’s brush with death will often bring about a catharsis in the public, a sense of renewed appreciation for life which will transcend any particular moment in the plaza.

Even if there are no bullfights taking place, you can visit the museum in the Plaza de Toros that displays matadors’ costumes, bullfight posters and original works of art with taurine themes, including a parade cape painted by Picasso. As part of your visit, you can enter the ring and actually tread the golden sand, as so many famous matadors, such as Joselito, Belmonte, Manolete and Seville’s own Curro Romero have done. You may also visit the chapel where they have prayed before entering the ring and the infirmary where they may have spent some agonizing moments that are part and parcel of this “fiesta de los toros”.

Author: Juan Navarro, is a major tour agent in Seville Spain.

Tourists can get a look at time past as Seville presents a historic feel from its old and ancient structures.

Seville’s Monumental Sights

The streets of Seville are dotted with a blend of modern and ancient architecture, historic monuments and nature parks that are sure to cultivate cultural interests.

The city’s Cathedral stands on a site that was formerly a city mosque. It is acclaimed as the largest amongst the medieval and gothic cathedrals ever made. It has an intricately designed and extravagantly decorated interior. The Giralda Tower, which was then a minaret, leaves a mark of its Arabic influences.

The Reales Alcázares or the Alcázar was once a Moorish Palace. It was improved with a Mudéjar décor by Pedro I. The large beautifully preserved gardens reflect a combination of Arabic and Renaissance style and influence.

Located in the Guadalquivir River banks, the Torre del Orro in ancient times was part of the city wall and used as a watchtower and barricade. Now a place for the Naval Museum, it is also an entry point to the Arenal district, Seville’s bullfighting area.

The University of Sevilla echoes the old-fashioned baroque structures of the first European tobacco company, La Antigua Fabrica de Tabacos.

The Archive of the Indies displays the splendor of classical Spanish Renaissance artistry. Similarly, the Casa de Pilatos and the San Telmo Palace offers the distinct Renaissance architectural influence.

The Museum of Fine Arts in Convent de la Merced is hailed as one of Spain’s best museums. Works of famous artists like El Greco, Veláquez, and Leal and art paintings by Murillo can be viewed in this museum. It also hosts several religious relics and artifacts in the cathedral.

The Archeological Museum contains ancient Roman currencies and other significant treasure and rare oriental pieces. Also featuring other Roman artifacts is the Musuem de la Condesa de Librija.

The Flamenco Museum introduces tourists to the classic flamenco dance. It’s a must-see venue for every visitor in Seville. Flamenco aficionados can experience and be acquainted with this Andalusian culture.

Seville has several nature parks and gardens that add to the historic mood of the city. The Parque Maria Luisa’s landscape complements the surrounding structures’ antique setting. The Garden of Murillo and the Catalina de Ribera Gardens are nestled along the Alcázar walls. The Jardin Inglés, Jardin de los Poetas, Jardin de la Vega Inclan, Parque de los Principes, Parque del Alamillo, Parque Amante, are just few of the nature parks and gardens that tourists can visit.

Seville, Spain is definitely a destination for historic sight-seeing. There’s no other place where you get to see and experience the Andalusian culture at its best. Seville offers its old-age attractions preserved through time.