Spain and Portugal for Visitors

Seville

Seville is a great choice for a citybreak, and a must-see for anyone on their way south from Madrid. In some ways, it is like a cross between Milan and Venice: it holds enough history to content almost anyone, but in other aspects it is a modern city, its streets lined with designer shops and chic pavement cafés. Its Arabic feel arguably makes it the most exotic city in Spain, and it is certainly where the imprint left by the Moorish occupation is most tangible. Its sights are world-class, particularly its cathedral, the largest Gothic cathedral in the world, with its emblematic belltower, the Giralda, and the Real Alcázar, not so much a palace as a complex of palaces, essentially Arabic in style, with a wonderful series of gardens. The River Guadalquivir winds north-south through the city, inviting visitors to take a riverboat excursion, while the more terrestrial or more romantic among us will prefer to take a horse-and-carriage ride around the Parque Maria Luisa. The historic Barrio Santa Cruz alone could keep you happily pottering around for days, and Seville is the tapas capital of Andalusia (i.e., of the world). Plus, the province of Seville has lovely, historic cities like Carmona, Utrera or Ecija, and Seville is close enough to the Gulf of Cádiz for a day out to the beach to be feasible.

Pro's:
Seville really does have something for everyone:
- Good communications
- Historic sights
- Food and drink
- Nightlife
- Shopping
- Warm weather
- Attractions for kids include the Isla Mágica amusement park, built on the site of the 1992 Expo on the historic La Cartuja island in the Guadalquivir.

Con's:
- Often unbearably hot at the height of summer
- It is undeniably touristy
- Street crime is a problem, especially pickpocketing and theft from cars.

You'll like it if you like:

...Venice, Istanbul, pescaito (Andalusia-style fried fish), sherry, going without sleep...

More Seville:

   Seville Essentials
      Seville Sights
         Seville Cathedral
         Giralda
         Alcázar
         Torre de Oro
         Itálica
         Archaeological Mus.
         Archive of the Indies
         Tobacco Factory
         Fine Art Museum
         Charity Hospital
         Bullring
         Mus. Pop. Arts
      Seville Bars/Pubs
      Seville Fiestas
      Seville Football
      Seville Hostels
      Seville Hotels
         5-Star Hotels
         4-Star Hotels
         3-Star Hotels
         2-Star Hotels
         1-Star Hotels 
      Seville Last-Min.
      Seville Links
      Seville Nightlife
      Seville Pictures
      Seville Property
      Seville Restaurants
      Seville Tours
      Seville Transport