Seville

Seville is a city located in the southern part of Spain. It is the capital of the autonomous community of Andalusia and is situated along the banks of the Guadalquivir river. The city is the recognized cultural and financial center of the area.

Sights & Activities

Seville boasts of its own example of mudéjar architecture, the Alcázar of Sevile. Construction for this impressive palace started in 1364 and was commissioned by King Pedro of Castile. Today, visitors can wander around this extensive complex and marvel at its beautiful detailing and rich furnishings. Of particular note is the area called the Apartment of Charles V, which features a private chapel that is adorned with azulejos. The apartment is also decorated with highly valued Flemish tapestries. Charles V is credited with adding the Gothic elements of Alcázar that are in contrast to the original Moorish style of the structure. One of the gardens also features an underground bathhouse and the 16th century Pabellón de Carlos V. Another garden in the premises, the El Naranjal, is where the wedding of the monarch took place. Visitors shouldn’t also miss catching glimpses of several interesting parts of the palace, such as the Dormitorio de Isabel la Católica and the Dormitorio de los Reyes Moros.
Another interesting attraction in Seville is the Casa Lonja, a High Renaissance building that was built in the later part of the 19th century. The building presently houses the General Archives of the Indies, a huge collection of documents regarding the discovery and subsequent conquests of America and the Philippines. Along with the nearby Cathedral and the Alcázar, Casa Lonja, with its intrinsic architectural value, has been designated as UNESCO World Heritage site.
The Seville Cathedral is located on the Plaza Virgen de los Reyes and is an impressive Medieval Gothic structure that took more than a century to build. Construction of the cathedral started in 1401 and at its completion, became the largest Roman Catholic cathedral in the world. Its most prominent feature is its bell tower, the La Giralda, which is open for visitors to climb up to and enjoy the views of the city. The tower is topped with a statue that represents Faith. The cathedral was built on the site of a mosque and formally bears the name Cathedral de Santa Maria de la Sede. The cathedral also bears the longest nave in the country that is richly decorated. Its altarpiece is also considered the largest in the world and bears the lifework of craftsman Pierre Dancart. The impressive woodcarving depicts the life of Christ and is considered the finest Gothic woodcarving in the world. Among the valuable items kept in the cathedral are pieces of religious jewelry, sculptures, paintings, and the tomb of Christopher Columbus.
On the northern part of the cathedral is the Court of Orange Trees that features an octagonal Visigothic fountain. Access to the Biblioteca Columbina is on the east side of the court. The library keeps thousands of documents related to the discovery of America.
There are other religious sites located in Seville that visitors shouldn’t miss. One is the Iglesia de San Julián, built in the 14th century. This Gothic church was dedicated to the Virgen de la Hiniesta and features several interesting religious artifacts, including a statue that is four centuries old.
Seville’s other famous church is the Basílica de la Macarena, where the statue of the Virgen de la Macarena is located. The statue stands on the high altar, also richly decorated in gold and silver. The adjacent Basilica Museum displays all the jewelry worn by the statue during special occasions. The museum also features costumes worn by famous bullfighters of the city.

Weather

Seville enjoys a Mediterranean climate, with manifestations of oceanic influences. It is considered one of the warmest cities of the continent, with an average annual temperature of 18.6°C. August is considered the warmest month while January is the coolest. Summer in the city is also dry, with little to no precipitation. Winter is described to be mild, with occasional frost. Rain occurs frequently in the months of October to April, with the highest frequency occurring in December.