Get to Know About Seville, the Host City of the 2020 FIP World Congress
By: María Virginia Giolito
Seville is the capital city of Andalusia. Located in the South of Spain, Seville (Sevilla in Spanish) is one of the largest Spanish cities with over 700.000 inhabitants. Along with Córdoba and Granada, Seville is one of the three most famous cities in Andalusia. Visiting Seville not only means discovering a very rich architectural and historical legacy, but also diving into staples of Spanish culture like tapas, sangria and flamenco.
Situated on the banks of the Guadalquivir River, Seville has a rich Moorish heritage and used to be a prosperous port that carried out trade with the Americas. The streets and squares in the historic quarter of the capital of Andalusia are lively and busy. They treasure many constructions with World Heritage designation, and many districts are full of traditional culture, like Triana and La Macarena.
A blend of art traditions
Many civilisations have come and gone in the city of Seville. The Tartessians founded Hispalis, and the Romans built the famous Itálica next to it in 207 BC. Founded by General Scipio, two Roman emperors were born there: Trajan and Adrian. The long presence of the Moors, from 711 to 1248 AD, left permanent imprints on the city. The end of the Caliphate of Cordoba (11th century) brought about the splendour of the Taifa Kingdom of Seville, especially under the reign of al-Mutamid, the poet king. The years of highest splendour in Seville happened after European arrivals in America.
During the 16th and 17th century, its port was one of the most important in Spain because it had the monopoly of foreign trade by sea. Thanks to the trade carried out during that period in Seville, many mansions, stately homes, churches and convents were built.
A real treat for the palate
The best place to taste food in Seville is probably in the bars in the historic quarter and in the districts of Triana and La Macarena, where you can enjoy a range of delicious tapas with a cold beer, fine wine or “Manzanilla de Jerez”. Typical tapas are made of cured meats (Iberian ham, Iberian cured pork sausage), seasoned food (olives, papas aliñás — seasoned potatoes, garlic prawns called “Gambas al ajillo), fried fish, montaditos (small toasted sandwiches), potato “tortilla”, “pinchos morunos” and gazpacho (cold soup, made mainly with tomatoes).
Things to see in Seville
Avenida de la Constitución is the principal avenue, starts in the Puerta Jerez and finishes in the Plaza Nueva. Here you can found the principal attractions of the city: The Cathedral, the Real Alcazar of Seville, la Giralda and the General Archive of the Indies.
The Alcazar of Seville is a World Heritage since 1986. The Alcázar is still a royal residence — when he comes to Seville, the King of Spain lives here! It’s the oldest royal palace in Europe. This Arab and Moorish palace alone represents the magnificence of Mudéjar art. The interior decorations are beautiful, each room and courtyard are decorated on every square centimeter with geometric patterns, vegetation and azulejos.The place is also worth seeing for its really huge gardens with fountains, water jets and flower beds. It feels good to enjoy a bit of shade in the hot Andalusian summer! And for the fans, it also was used for filming scenes in Game of Thrones. Tip: there is free admission on Mondays from 5 to 6 pm in winter and from 6 to 7 pm in summer.
The Cathedral of Seville is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and here you can find the rests of Cristobal Colon. Built from 1401 on the foundations of an ancient Almohad mosque, the last stone of the dome was laid 100 years later and is a mixture of two religions: Christian and Muslim. The entrance to the cathedral includes the Giralda, the oranges garden, the Salvador church and the sacristy. Tip: to avoid waiting time in the Cathedral, you can go to the Colegial del Divino Salvador located ten minutes by foot from the Cathedral at 11:00 AM (opening time) and buy a combined ticket.
La Giralda: The cathedral entrance ticket also gives you the opportunity to visit La Giralda, the bell tower of the Seville Cathedral. This minaret of the former mosque was modified by the Christians, who added the top part for bells to be placed.
The General Archive of the Indies is also a UNESCO World Heritage site situated next to the cathedral and the Alcazar of Seville. The visit is free and the main interest is the remarkable architecture of the building. The inside is very beautiful; however, do not expect to see the famous archives, they are kept out of sight and all the cardboard files on the libraries are empty!
Torre del Oro: Close to the Plaza de Toros, you can see the Torre del Oro, which translates to “Tower of Gold” in English. Located on the banks of the Guadalquivir River, it was built in the early 13th century to strengthen the city’s military defenses. To block traffic on the river, the Moors used a huge chain connected to another tower situated on the other side of the river. Today, the Torre del Oro houses the naval museum, with miniature models and former navigation tools. At the top, there is also a panoramic terrace which offers a nice view of the Cathedral, the river and the Triana district located on the other side of the Guadalquivir. Tip: On Monday, the entrance is free of charge.
La Plaza de Los Toro: You can visit the Plaza de Toros de la Real Maestranza de Caballería de Sevilla (yes, that’s the full name!) with a guided tour only. You will be able to visit the museum and enter the arena. Each year, the Plaza de Toros hosts one of the most important ferias in the world: The Feria de Abril. Whether you are for or against it, the bullfighting tradition is very strong in Andalusia, and bullfights are a very important event in the Andalusian life. If you want to visit the Plaza de Toros, all the information can be found on the official website.
Las Setas de la Encarnación (Metropol Parasol) is a peculiar monument of Seville. Recently built in 2011, the Metropol parasol or Las Setas (“mushrooms” in English) was strongly criticised during its construction. And indeed, the architecture can be surprising. This large wooden structure has the shape of giant mushrooms — quite far from the traditional Andalusian style! But that’s where you’ll find one of the city’s best views. You can climb to the top of the building and admire a 360-degree view of Seville. The entrance fee is 3€, and your entrance ticket give you a 1€ rebate at the café located at the very top. The perfect opportunity to enjoy a drink and sunset over the city in an unusual place!
Casa de Pilatos is a palace built in 1540 by the first Marquis of Tarifa. Inspired by Italian architecture, the palace mixes several styles such as Mudejar, Gothic and Renaissance.
La Plaza de España, or “Spain square” in English. This landmark was built in 1928 for the 1929 Ibero-American exhibition to celebrate the Spanish conquistadors arriving to the Americas.
To face the river and the arrival of ships from America, the plaza was designed with a half-circle shape. On the Plaza de España, you can admire canals reflecting the superb architecture of the palaces, four bridges symbolizing the four ancient kingdoms of Spain and arcades, fountains, and the famous 48 azulejos benches each representing a province of Spain. The terrace can be reached by taking the stairs on the right side of the square and from there we can obtain a great panoramic view! Fun fact: for Star Wars fans, the Plaza de España was used as a film location for episode II “The attack of the clones.”
El Paseo de Colon is the avenue that surrounds the margins of the Guadalquivir River from Puerta Jerez to the Triana bridge. Is one of the most beautiful streets of Seville. Also, some interesting monuments can be found here like the Maestranza Theatre, the Plaza de Los Toros and the Torre del Oro
Maria Luisa Park: In front of the Plaza de España, you will find Seville’s most famous park Maria Luisa Park, or Parque de María Luisa in Spanish. As you walk around, you will come across Plaza América, nicknamed the “Pigeon Square” by the Sevillians because of the numerous birds enjoying the food leftovers (and people feeding them!).
A must-see during your walk in the park: the frog’s fountain, the lions’ fountain, and the island of ducks. Seville Archaeological Museum and the Museum of Popular Arts and Traditions are located at the southern end of the park.
Santa Cruz District
Triana District: In order to get to the Triana district, the easiest way is to cross the Isabel II bridge to reach the other side of the Guadalquivir river. In the past, this district was home to many sailors, gypsies, singers and flamenco dancers and therefore was a very lively neighbourhood.
For a nice stroll along the river, take the Calle Betis and enjoy the beautiful view of the Torre del Oro and Seville city centre. If you like to visit religious buildings, don’t miss the Iglesia Santa Ana, the most beautiful of Triana district.
Curiosities
“Abanico,” Spanish for fan, is part of the 2020 FIP World Congress logo. This item is a must-have souvenir from Spain. Fans first became popular in Europe when they were brought back by travellers from East Asia in the 17th century. They were initially intended for both men and women, but it was the female members of society who discovered them to be a useful tool to communicate their feelings and emotions.
Make sure you pick one up when you’re in Seville ;)
How do you arrive to the city centre from the airport? There are several options, but the cheapest is using the Airport Bus service (EA). It can be taken at the exit of the arrival terminal and it cost 4€ single ride. It has several stops. More information can be found on the Seville’s airport page.
SEE YOU IN SEVILLE!
