Seville Travel Guide

In Seville, the art of living is a pursuit of passion, imbuing the very fabric of the Andalusian capital, regardless of age or social status. Swing by the Plaza de Toros on fight day to bask in the unbridled fervour of the crowds, or opt for a tour on a day of rest and experience one of Spain’s oldest and most important bullfighting rings. If the spectacle of toreros spinning about with their four-hoofed prey doesn’t sit well with your stomach, then wake up before the rest of the tourists do and set about town to discover Andalusia’s fabled sun freshly illuminating the Cathedral and its distinctive tower, the Giralda (the minaret of a mosque once standing on the exact same spot). Wander from the Cathedral to the Alcázar, a magnificent palace and gardens, rebuilt after the reconquista of Seville from its Muslim rulers. The palace rests on the site of a former Islamic palace, incorporating both Christian and Moorish traditions. We hope you will find Portugal-live’s travel guide a useful resource.

When the sun approaches its zenith, take a break from the sweat-inducing heat in a café or restaurant in the narrow and intertwining lanes of the old centre. Have a beer or something cool to drink during siesta and gather your strength for the night to come. When the heat dies down, amble from plaza to plaza, each more charming than the last, or head over to the río Guadalquivir and witness some of Seville’s river life, the gentle currents guarded by the Torre del Oro (Golden Tower).

The Guadalquivir River has played an integral part in the development of Seville, no mater what nation was occupying the city at the time. From the Carthaginians and Romans to the Moors and Christians, this inland port has remained a centre of art, commerce, culture and empire throughout the ages. When Christopher Columbus’s fortunes took a turn for the worse, he returned to Seville, the place of his fleet’s initial departure for the New World, for a bit of repose. After his death, his bones were transported across the Atlantic to the Dominican Republic, then Cuba, and finally back to Spain. The rest he so desperately sought in life eluded him even after death.

Once you get your bearings in the city, and taste some of its vast history, it’s time to hit the town. The streets come alive once the sun goes down, with the Sevillanos scampering about from bar to bar, everyone having a good time. It’s an experience you shouldn’t miss. Famed for tapas bars amongst lanes overpopulated with orange trees, Seville’s fragrant explosions of culinary delights and agreeable aromas seem to please everyone. The locals really know how to have fun in districts like Santa Cruz (in the centre), in open-air establishments and clubs across the river in Triana, or else in El Arenal, where you would be remiss if you didn’t catch a flamenco show. The festivities start late and continue until the break of dawn. Seville is a modern and sophisticated city, full of awe-inspiring architecture, great art and a healthy zest for life.