Looking Around Seville
Our apartment is in this beautiful ancient mansion. We are on the upper floor with a fabulous view.
From our terrace we can see the tops of many of the nearby churches. Also hear their bells. Very nice spot for evening tapas and wine.
Seville is a great city for walking. Nearly everything is within 5 to 20 minutes by foot, with many interesting things to see enroute. Because Seville is the hottest city in Spain, our walking is normally done in the mornings or evenings when the tempurature is perfect for wandering around. Mid-day is spent over a good lunch followed by a siesta. What a life... So, first the evening walks. The picture above is the Plaza del Salvador, named after the large Igreja del Salvador on the right. This plaza is only a block from our apartment, and is home center for us. Great place for lunches provided by 4 or 5 restaurants on the side that serve to the tables in the plaza. Also famous for its locally brewed beer. The evening crowd is begining to gather for tapas and some of that beer.
Two blocks to the east is this Plaza del Pan. An excellent restaurant and coffe shop here. Good place to begin in the morning.
A block south of our apartment is this junction that connects Plaza del Salvador (a block straight ahead) to the Plaza Nueva, off to the left.
Tha large Plaza Nueva is a beautiful spot for friends and family to meet and loaf.
Each evening there is some excellent music by this all brass band. Jazz and classical.
The Avenida de la Constitucion begins on this corner of the Plaza Nueva and heads south to the Cathedral and numerous parks. The building on the right is the famous La Adriatica, a restored Moorish classic.
All of the streetside restaurants are beginning tapas service. Perfect temperature in the upper 70's for outside dining and watching the world go by.
Inside doesn't collect a crowd until the dinner hour, after 9:00pm.
Lots of action around the Cathedral. Here a marching band.
The Hotel Dona Maria has a great location right on the Cathedral Plaza.
Let's start out on a morning walk around. Most of the streets in the center are for pedestrians only. Much shopping in small shops, some very high end.
And some shops are very trendy.
This unusual work is the largest wooden structure in the world. Called the Metropol Parasol, it was designed by the German architect Jurgen Mayor. Completed in 2011 after six long years of construction and cost overruns.
It really is an amazing thing.
Lots of activity around the Cathedral in the morning.
Just to the east of the Cathedral and the Alcazar is this small area called Santa Cruz. It is actually the old Jewish Quarter.
It contains narrow streets with lots of interesting shops and restaurants.
More.
Also a really good spice shop. Faye made three stops here for high quality saffron for us and as gifts.
A neat ceramics and lamp shop in an old victorian building.
A side street cul de sac in the Quarter. We remember this spot from our first trip here many years ago.
Windows.
Just to the south of the Jewish Quarter is this beautiful series of parks, Jardenes de Murillo and Jardenes de Catalina de Ribera.
A monument to Christopher Columbus.
West of the parks is the Guadalquivir River and the famous Torre del Oro.
The Torre del Oro.
When built in 1220, it was a watchtower for guarding against enemy ships coming up the river. When an enemy ship was sighted, a massive chain was raised from the river floor to block the passage upriver. The bridge in the distance is the famous Puente de Isabel II.
Completed in 1852, the Puente de Isabel II was the first permanent bridge across the river.
Very unique circular structural elements.
The Palacio de San Telmo II is located just downstream from the Torre del Oro. Completed in 1754, it has a beautiful facade. Originally a university, it has recently been restored to serve as the office of the Presidency of the Andalusian Autonomous Government.
The carved stone main entrance is a work of art.
The east side of the historic center is still surrounded by its original Roman walls. This gateway is the Puerta de la Macarena.
One of the many gates through the wall.
That's enough looking around. Now let's head over to the Cathedral