Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
Arrived in Seville Spain on Thursday 15th March. We are surprised at how difficult it is to manouvre a car into the centre of the city, as there are very narrow winding streets they refer to as labyrinths. We arrived at our hotel 'Corral del Rey' small boutique style hotel that was once a beautiful home.
We have the 4th floor penthouse suite with a terrace.
We decided to go for an evening walk as dinner here is not until 8.30 or starts up until 10 pm. We are virtually in the old city centre. A couple of minutes from the cathedral (the largest in the world).
Instead of walking we decide to take a horse and carriage ride, great idea to first see the main city sights. We booked a guide for Friday so a quick look around first was a good move. It's only 7.30 on our return so we find a local restaurant for an early tapas meal, and a bottle of Spanish red, a good drop and good value at only EU 18.
Friday 16th breakfast on our terrace then meet our guide Francisco, what a find! Intelligent, fun and friendly.
Our walk with him takes us through the labyrinth of small streets, these are designed in the middle ages. Francisco said they had to be just wide enough for a knight to draw his sword.
Seville is a photographers dream. So much colour, sculpture, fascinating houses and buildings. After a short walk we come to the Jewish quarter which Francisco explains was so important in the development of cities in the middle ages as they provided most of the capital for development in business.
Seville developed from settlement of the Phoenicians, Romans, Visigoths, Moors, to Spanish in the middle ages.
The Catholic monarchy banned all religion except catholics, hence the Jews were either converted, killed or left the city. Their ghetto was right next to the palace, 'Real al Cazar', which itself is next to the 'Cathederal y Giralda' (originally a mosque).
There was a great influence on the style of buildings by the Moors. Even though, most of Seville was developed under Christian royalty.
It is hard to imagine a city with so many tapas bars, drinking bars and restaurants. The food is great, wine excellent, and lots of atmosphere. We bought some interesting ceramic tiles for Brighton and Portsea.
The last part of our tour took us to the palace, (this is still being used by the Royal family). It is in very good condition and the Moorish influences created a stunning environment. Their gardens are spectacular with peacocks, fountains, the blossoms blooming, and lots of orange trees.
Last stop the Cathederal, and wow it is huge,(took 100 years to build).It is quiet beautiful with lots of separate side chapels. The wealth in the middle ages must have been enormous.
Seville was the place where the discovery of the America's started. We saw the throne room where Queen Isabella appointed Christopher Columbus (whose body in interned in the Cathederal). This city was the centre of American trade with Europe for 100 years until the ships became too big for the river.
Our tour went for 4 hours and at 3 pm we had lunch like the rest of Seville.
We had dinner at a great tapas bar 'La Bulla'.
Saturday we got up late wandered the city, visited the Roman ruins, (very well done), then onto the contemporary art museum. The exhibition was disappointing though the building, set in a 14th century monastery, was great.
Saturday evening we had 2 hours of Yoga with Antonia, on our patio, with the sun going down and the sound of church bells. We then went to dinner at Don Juan's 'Laurel' restaurant, ( Janet had grilled steak marinated in salt and garlic. Michael had roast suckling pork, Rioja red wine). On the way home we encountered the street minstrels, a group of singing students. What a fabulous show of Spanish folk songs and dance in the street.
Seville is definitely worth a visit. We should come back for the amazing Easter festival and golf.
Tomorrow we are on the road again...
Jb and Mick
- comments
Suzanne McG Seville sounds fantastic!
Michel Lewin Sounds fantastic! Danielle sent me a link to the blog. Good to hear the yoga is happening. :-) Michel
Trish Oh my God it sounds fantastic. We've been wanting to go there for ages and now having heard about your visit I want to go even more. Makes my short trip to Barcelona sound quite normal. Buena vacaciones, beso Trish xx