University of Seville

About Seville, Guide and Top Tourist Attractions
(Seville, Spain)

Seville was once the capital of all of Aragon and was the seat of the Throne of King Alfonso and later Queen Isabella who presided over Spain when Columbus discovered the new world. In fact The remains of Columbus are supposedly in a casket inside the grand Seville Cathedral which boasts the largest floor space of any cathedral in the world.

The city has plenty of history attached to it, some fine Andalusian architecture, a charming old town and pleasant atmosphere. Situated alongside the Gauldaquivar River, Seville is best explored on foot and as a distinct Andalusian character.

What to do in Seville

Seville has many beautiful parks for walking or cycling. At the Maria Luisa Park, you can rent a tandem bike and take a quick tour of the park. You can also stop by the Plaza de America and feed the tourist-friendly pigeons.

There are also some excellent restaurants in the city. The tapas bars are a must-try -- the oldest one, founded in 1670, is El Rinconcillo near the Plaza de los Terceros. Several other bars can be found at the Calle Betis in Triana, overlooking the Guadalquivir River. Try looking for a bar that serves the famous Agua de Sevilla - a mixture of four liquors, champagne, pineapple juice, and cream.

Tourist Attractions

Seville is teeming with beautiful historic buildings and monuments, many of them dating back to the Moorish conquest. The Giralda Tower dominates the Seville skyline and boasts an interesting interior featuring 35 narrow ramps.

One of the most magnificent structures is the Alcazar Castle, built by the Spanish leader King Pedro the Cruel in the 1360s. Traces of those who ruled Spain over the centuries can be seen all over the palace, some of them rather mundane - such as the kitchens built for General Franco when he took over in 1939.

The largest church in the world can be found in Seville. The Gothic-style Cathedral of Seville peaks at 42 metres at the nave and covers over 11,000 metres of land area. It is so grand, in fact, that it remains striking despite its simple interior and lack of decoration. It also contains the tomb of the explorer Christopher Columbus, a major point of interest for both scholars and tourists.