Sevilla Walking Tours

Today’s post is by guest writer Peter Tatford (aka Sevilla English)
who tells us about his unique walking tour service.

Pretty much wherever you go on holiday these days, one of the services you’ll find on offer will be guided tours of the city, and/or its individual monuments and museums. These can be fun, informative and useful, but during the seven years I’ve lived in Seville, I’ve all too often seen large herds of tourists following disconsolately in the wake of a single guide, and wondered what they were getting out of it. And it started me thinking “What would I like a walking tour to be like?”

My walking tours are designed to be small and informal, so people can feel personally involved with what they see, and can ask questions or add their own comments or experiences without feeling intimidated.

There’s a mix of history, legend, and anecdote, which Seville has plenty of, and I also point out some of the best places to eat, suggest places to go and things to do, and say something about what it’s like to live here.

Even though I have lived here for over seven years, I am always discovering new things about the city’s customs and culture, its past, and how, timeless though it seems, it is, in fact, a living, breathing community.

The Sevilla I will show you is my Sevilla. I hope you will find it as beautiful and fascinating as I do.

We usually start at 10.30 and the tours are about two hours long – there may also be a coffee break included, depending on the route taken. You will either be picked up at your hotel, or a central meeting point will be arranged.

For more information or to book a tour you can contact me at:

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360º Setas

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This morning I took another trip up to the top of the Metropol Parasol to try out my new iPhone app that allows me to take 360º photos… I think I need more practice but this was the best of the few I tried out.

I also saw that they have finally put up info boards that explain what you are looking at from the main outlook points. They also now have pay-per-view telescopes that warn you not to look directly into the sun (duh).

A tip – do try to get there just after opening time (10 am) as it is lovely and cool and there is nobody else around.

All in a Morning’s Work…


I was invited to an ice cream tasting this morning by my friend Eduardo who runs Different Spain, a fabulous private travel and concierge service. You may recall that a couple of months ago Edu and I went to an olive oil tasting together at the Basilippo Hacienda just outside Sevilla, and it turns out that this ice cream tasting, held at Mascarpone as a part of their new “Flavour Sensations” range, was going to include three flavours made from Basilippo’s exquisite extra virgin olive oil.

Have to admit I’m not much of an ice cream person. Or maybe I’m a purist? I only eat ice cream once or twice a year and my favourite flavour has always been vanilla. But it was fun to try a few very different flavours, such as:

  • vanilla olive oil
  • gazpacho topped with balsamic vinegar
  • chocolate with hot chilis
  • vanilla bonbon filled with wine and covered in dark chocolate
  • chocolate bonbon filled with olive oil and covered in white chocolate
  • mascarpone with salted sunflower & pumpkin seeds, mixed with dulce de leche

The surprise hit for me was gazpacho – it really worked! I also quite liked the mascarpone ice cream and the wine-filled bonbon. Later Eduardo and I were given some frozen fruit pops to try. They are not on the menu yet but I quite enjoyed my strawberry one, which was made from 45% fresh fruit. As for the rest, it was all very interesting and some of the flavours were quite nice, but I think I’ll stick with vanilla…

 

Corpus Cristi 2011

I think Corpus Cristi is my favourite public holiday in Sevilla, taking place the first Thursday after Trinity Sunday (which is 60 days after Easter). There is a procession that starts around 8.30 am and finishes at noon. The night before the procession route is strewn with sprigs of rosemary and flower petals, balconies are draped with silk shawls and flowers, shopkeepers try to outdo each other with bread & wine window displays, and altars large and small are also put up. When I first came to Sevilla I was told by a friend that the best part of Corpus was to get up early and walk the procession route before things got started, when the morning air is still cool and fresh and there aren’t too many people around. I have done this many times and always love it. The smell of the rosemary, los balcones de seda…

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Magnolia

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This is Sevilla’s most famous magnolia tree, and a magnificent one it is too. It’s just started blossoming and I couldn’t resist taking a few pics as I was walking by yesterday evening. If you want to see it for yourself it’s next to the Cathedral, and across from the Post Office, on Avenida de la Constitución.