Being an art major, of course I had heard all about the beauty of Seville (or as the Spanish would say, Sevilla) from pretty much every art history class I every took. Having lived in Barcelona during undergrad of 2012, I had learned a lot about the country. I knew that the country used to be separated by three religions: Catholic in the north, Jewish in the center, and Islamic in the south. This is actually one of the reasons why I love Spain so much: the difference, and impact of religion. This was my first time in the south of Spain, and the last ‘region based on religion’ I had yet to discover.
Seville is in the heart of Andalucia. It’s literally the ‘Spain’ you envision in your dreams. It’s both, classically old and new, bright and colourful, AND extremely hot compared to the rest of Spain. Between Barcelona and Seville, it’s hard for me to decide which is more artistic in terms of art and architecture, however Seville is the cultural, and financial capital of Southern Spain. It is full of extravagant architecture, history, and vibrant life. It has some of the most famous churches, and winding sunbaked streets and alleyways in all of Spain. Seville’s Moorish-inspired mudejar architecture, was just one of my many favorite things about the city.
Although the city is 87 km away from the Atlantic Ocean, Seville was once a significant port and cultural center for Spanish exploration of the New World. Originally a Roman town, it fell under Muslim rule in 711. This is when Seville flourished, and became a leading cultural and commercial center under the Abbadid dynasty. In 1248 Muslim possession ended, and was followed by Spanish Christians under Ferdinand III. Thus making the substantial Moorish and Jewish minorities driven into exile, and the local economy temporarily falling to ruins.
The new Spanish discovery of the Americas brought prosperity to the city as a whole. Sevilla became the city of exploration and exploitation of America through the Casa de Contratacion “House of Trade” which was established in 1503 to regulate commerce between Spain and the New World. For a few centuries, Sevilla held a dominant position in Spain’s New World commerce, as it was the site of gold and silver from the Americas and many Spanish emigrants to the New World sailed from its quays. Due to this incredible amount of movement, Sevilla was the richest and most populous city in Spain in the 16th century. Depicting the beauty of what 16th century Sevilla was all about were artists such as, Diego Velazquez, Franciso de Zurbaran and Bartolome Esteban Murillo to name a few. Following the 16th century, Sevilla declined in trade and infrastructure, however was brought back up again as a new renaissance in Sevilla was initiated in the 1930s. It was in the 20th century that the port was enlarged, serving once again as an industrial and commercial center, while helping Nationalists in the Spanish Civil War.
Seeing as Seville was a gateway to both Africa, and the Americas, Sevilla’s city layout is quite amazing. The oldest sites in Sevilla are those inspired by Moorish style, such as Alcazar Palace. Sevilla’s cathedral of Santa Maria, is one of the largest Gothic churches, and was built on the site of the city’s principal mosque.
During my 2 night stay in Seville, I visited the following sites:
While visiting Seville, it is easy to find many shops that sell wine, olives, cork, tobacco and textiles as they are all major industries in terms of commerce, and services.
Cathedral of Santa Maria: One of the largest Gothic churches. It was constructed from 1402 to 1506 on the site of the city’s former Moorish fortress which was built by the Almohads in 1180-1200 of an earlier Visigothic Church. The main area of the cathedral was built in the Late Gothic style of France, but there are various styles ranging from the Moorish through the Gothic, Plateresque and Baroque. Inside, there are paintings by Murillo and Zurbaran among others.
The Giralda: Incorporated into the cathedral as its bell tower, the Giralda is one of the mosques few surviving portions – its minaret. The Minaret’s surfaces are almost entirely covered with yellow brick and stone paneling of Moorish design. A 40 story walk up a gradual ramp, will lead you to the best 360 views of Seville.
The Casa Lonja: Adjascent to the cathedral and finished in 1599, it houses the General Archive of the Indies. A collection of books, plans, manuscripts and documents regarding the history and administration of Spain’s empire in the America’s.
The University of Sevilla: Founded in 1502, it is now housed in the old Tobacco Factory which was completed in 1757. This building is both Baroque and Rococo in terms of Architectural style.
Real Alcazar Palace: The Alcazar Palace is the finest survival from the Moorish period. It lies near the cathedral, and building begun in 1181 under the Almohads, but was continued under the Christians. Like many buildings in Seville, there are both Moorish and Gothic stylistic features. Definitely arrive early, as I didn’t anticipate attractions in Seville to be that crowded, but it was.
Plaza de Espana: This grand half-circle of buildings was Spain’s main pavilion during the 1939 World Fair. Today the buildings house various government officies but make sure to walk around the entire shape. You’ll find different bright azulejo (tile) pictures depicting the difference provinces of Spain, and the four main bridges symbolize the medieval Iberian kingdoms.