A bit of general info about Sevilla…
There are so many reasons for coming to Sevilla – and just as many for coming back again. From picturesque balcony-lined streets and little plazas to palaces and cathedrals, from parks and gardens to pavement cafés, it’s the Spain of everybody’s imagination, and the stunning beauty and romance of the place can take your breath away.
Seville (Sevilla in Spanish, pronounced se-VEE-ya) is the fourth largest city in Spain, and is the capital city and cultural and financial centre of Andalusia. It was founded by the Romans and is more than 2,000 years old, and boasts one of the largest preserved old city centres in Europe, where you can see the traces of its long history in its many architectural styles, from the Arabic period through late medieval, renaissance, and baroque. The population of Seville is about 800,000 including the suburbs, and it is quite spread out, but the old centre is mostly contained within the old city walls on the interior ring road (the Ronda).
Unlike in larger Spanish cities like Madrid and Barcelona, you won’t find a lot of English speaking residents here. And even if you speak some Spanish (Castellano) you may find it difficult to understand the “Andaloo” accent, as many residents of Seville (los Sevillanos) have a habit of dropping the s at the end of words, and indeed quite often the whole last syllable.
Resources
The main Tourism Office is located in the Plaza San Francisco on the corner next to Bar Laredo. The staff here are very helpful and you can also use the computers there. There is another office on the Avenida de la Constitución.
Books that feature Seville
- The Seville Communion by Arturo Perez-Reverte
- The Blind Man of Seville by Robert Wilson
Quotes from fellow travellers:
Alejna Brujos, Boston: I was completely charmed by Sevilla. While there are plenty of things to see and do, my fondest memories are of just relaxing at an outdoor cafe, and wandering the maze of narrow streets. There was a magic just to being in such a beautiful old city.
Craig Lawrence, Vancouver: Sevilla is old, older than my country but it is young as well. It’s a place to laugh and dance or just stand in wonder. Don’t even get me started on the food! Tapas perfection at every turn, who could have known these delights existed?”
