Located in southern Spain, Seville’s astonishing architecture and monuments draw from both Spanish and Moorish influences. A glorious mishmash of Gothic cathedrals, Mudéjar palaces and striking contemporary constructions, this historic city has an embarrassment of riches when it comes to extraordinary sights. Follow our local specialists to discover the finest Seville landmarks.
The Alcazár
One of Seville’s most show-stopping constructions, The Alcazár is a sprawling 10th century Moorish complex of stately rooms, scenic courtyards and stunning bath halls. The beauty and intricacy of its elaborate decorative columns and ceramic tile work defies belief. You may recognise it as the setting for Dorne in Game of Thrones. Originally built as a fort in 913AD, it’s been continually revamped over 11 centuries.
Plaza de America
This gorgeous square is framed by three exceptional and very distinct palaces. The Neo-Arabic style Museum of Popular Arts, the Neo-Gothic Royal Pavilion and the Neo-Renaissance-style Provincial Archaeological Museum. Curiously, all were built for the Iberico-American Exhibition of 1929, and designed by the same architect: Anibal González.
Maria Luisa Park
Strewn with exotic plants, colourful mosaic fountains, ornamental statues and tree-lined boulevards, Maria Luisa Park is a vast park running alongside the Guadalquivir River. Once the gardens of the Palace of San Telmo, today Maria Luisa Park is Seville’s principle green public space, donated to the city in 1893 by Infanta Luisa Fernanda, the Duchess of Montpensier. Take a stroll around its fragrant orange trees, Mediterranean pines and pretty flower beds.
Seville Cathedral
Seville’s Cathedral is the world’s largest Gothic cathedral and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The vast medieval structure is spectacularly beautiful to look at, and its awe-inspiring scale seemingly challenges logic. In fact, legend has it, Seville authorities originally stated, “Let’s construct a church so large future generations will think we were mad”, before its construction. Santa Maria de la Sede is home to 80 chapels, the tomb of Christopher Columbus and the majestic Giralda tower – originally a minaret of a mosque the cathedral was built on the remains of.
Plaza de España
What a sight! Located on the outer edge of Maria Luisa Park, Plaza de España was also designed in the 1920s by Anibal González, like Plaza de America’s buildings. It’s a large, semi-circular complex in art deco and neo-Mudejar styles, flanked by towers at each end. Its façade is ornamented with colourful azulejos (ceramic tiles and decorations) in traditional Andalusian style. An incredible 58 benches line the front exterior, each depicting paintings of Spanish provinces.