Melt into scintillating Seville…
A 2.5 hours journey by high speed train from Madrid Atocha station will transport you to Seville, Spain’s fourth largest city located along the coast of the Guadalquivir River in the South. The dull sandy colour of the scorched countryside, though not refreshingly green, has an allure of its own. The sunbaked red earth is dotted by miles of olive trees, sunflowers, maize and corn.
On the horizon, a sudden flash as the sun rays catches the metal of the lance that Don Quixote is wielding…the errant knight in shining armour trotting on his beloved horse, with Sancho, his partner in crime in tow, readying for another episode of comedic misadventure or chivalrous romance. A picture of impractical idealism as pure as the silhouette of the whitewashed stout windmill behind him…unreal, dramatic. Hah, it’s just your imagination again!
It is a short 10-minute cab drive to the old town area from Seville’s Santa Justa station. Andalusía’s fiery, cultural capital. Isn’t your mind already flooded with images of romance, flamenco, vibrance, fiestas, bullfights and cigars? Make the perfect choice by checking into one of the Casa-transformed boutique hotels in a narrow cobbled lane. Chances are you’ll find yourself in a restored historic mansion with a delightful interior courtyard open to the skies, colourful blue-white-yellow mosaics, a trickling fountain, and a fine lounge area with comfortably furnished alcoves. Does your window look out into back alley, facing homes with iron-balconies and drawn curtains. Doesn’t matter…you’re not going to cooped be within walls in this gorgeous, passionate city!
As you set foot into the quaint town, feel the pounding heartbeat of Southern Spain in the narrow one-way streets, ochre-yellow of the houses highlighted by pure white window frames and delicate black iron grills. A ‘fotografia’ announcing ‘fotos carnet entrega en el acto’ (photos card delivery on the spot), a ‘zapateria’ (shoe shop) stocking all kinds of fashion accessories, a graffiti scribbled shop shutter, a ‘telefono y fax publico’ selling mobile accessories…even the mundane enamours you. Many streets are almost empty in the quiet residential area. An old lady with an umbrella disappears into a corner lane, two backpackers consult their map on the opposite pavement, and in the distance, a row of parked motorcycles announce the onset of ‘busy-ness’.
Within minutes, you land at Plaza del Duque de la Victoria, enclosed by small mansions converted into hotels and the inevitable Les Cortes de Ingles. In the centre is a small enclosed park…a diagonal black-white chequered chess floor…an oasis of palms fanning the statue of Seville-born artist Velasquez. People rest on benches and potter around flea market stalls. The two parallel shopping streets of Seville, Calle Sierpes and Calle Tetuan are just around the corner…packed with eating joints, cafes, souvenir shops and high-street brands and flocking with tourists. Rebajas (regular half-yearly sales) and saldos (blemished items at a lower price) signboards beckon…come back later.
Wandering in and out of the lively streets, reach the wide open Plaza del Salvador, its western face crowned by the stunningly artistic salmon-and-cream facade of Iglesia del Salvador, the second largest baroque cathedral of the city. The other crowd pullers here are two legendary bars, Los Soportales and La Antigua Bodeguita. Old-world wood panelled folding doors and hand-painted floral designs proudly proclaim their lineage under charming arcades held up by old Roman columns of uneven height. This is the best place to sample a piece of Seville nightlife…a square jammed with people, standing with their drinks in crowds for sheer lack of space, squatting on the pavements and the steps of the church, music mingling with chatter. A temple in India with a liquor bar in front is an unthinkable anomaly, but this is Spain.
From Plaza del Salvador, walk down Calle Hernando taking cue from the wares on display in shops to translate their Spanish signboards. Test your language skills… Traies de Flamenca (traditional dresses, hats, spanish fans), filataleia (rare stamps), numismatico (coin collector), helados (icecream), fruiteria (fruits), guitarras-artesania-regalos (guitars, crafts and gifts). Turmeric, cream and peach colored houses with soft pastel window frames line the street, their common Andalusian character merging them harmoniously together. Note the electric and phone cables carefully bunched up underneath the slim balconies with lovely grillwork, they were painted in the building colour to appear more discreet. Bamboo blinds somewhere too…the insipid Indian ‘chik’ has a Spanish cousin!
Search out the inimitable landmark next…the Plaza de Espana at the Parque de María Luisa. So they had built this Renaissance Revival style glory for the 1929 Ibero-American Exposition! Some exposition that would have been! Pedestrians and horse-drawn carriages dot the area filled with clear ponds, endearing bridges and gushing fountains. The spectacular half-moon building about 200 meters in diameter, is embellished with detailed polychromatic tiles, ceramic handicraft and bright pavilions, and its two spectacular towers reflect in the idyllic moat. A fairytale! Indulge in a leisurely paddle under the Andalusian summer sun. Drift along the water, under the shadow of decadence and lavish architecture. The laidback life of Sevillianos centres around company, conversation and cuisine…dive deep into it for a while.
Potter around Santa Cruz, Seville’s cultural capital, where winding medieval lanes lead to romantic plazas perfumed with orange blossom. This is the Jewish Quarter and spiritual home of the famous Andalucían traditions of bullfighting and flamenco. All around is a littering of art galleries, museums and cultural delights including the intriguing Museo del Baile Flamenco housed within an 18th century building. None of the political and religious violence against Jews was evident anywhere…just clean, whitewashed buildings, lively tapas bars, cheerful restaurants and a relaxed, fun-loving vibe.
Myriad outdoor cafes provide delectable food in gorgeous settings. You’re reminded of wailing flamenco singers, morena Sevillanas dancers, stylish Don Juans, all along the curving narrow streets, small churches and outdoor cafes. Shops sell flamboyant bullfighter and flamenco costumes…rich embroideries, bejewelled buttons, glittering sequins, heavy girdles and collars on dark coloured heavy fabrics. The mantilla (Spanish veil piece of lace or silk worn over head or shoulders), the peineta (large decorative comb with a curved body), the gilet (sleeveless embroidered waistcoat)…centuries old traditions live on here. Bright blue-green and yellow Spanish tiles adorn the exteriors of pastel houses, walls of forgotten churches, noisy tabernas, historic buildings and even street signs. The abstract, repetitive patterns added charm to benches in parks and pillars in plazas…and intrigue to hidden courtyards of private mansions and corridors of quiet museums. Tiles even beautify the under-surface of balconies…beauty for beauty’s sake! Pure colours, brilliant surfaces and kaleidoscopic shapes…every tile art piece calls out to be photographed. “Te queiro, Seville!” (I love you, Seville!) you murmur under your breath.
Loiter in and out of the centuries-old labyrinthine, streets twist and turn, and sometimes without realising, your direction changes from east to south, or west or north. Each corner brings more wonders…a Roman column juxtaposed into a wall, a grand mansion with lavish carvings on its front door, a sudden plaza, a minaret peeking from behind a building, a Mudejar-style municipal office, a church tower visible from a distance. Layers of ancient influence…Roman over Phoenician, Visigoth over Roman, Moorish over Visigoth, Christian over Moorish…mysteries reveal at every few feet…an unparalleled medley of spectacular Medieval, Moorish, Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque architecture. Clearly, the inhabitants of this city are proud of their heritage…every street, every house, every shop was a joyous celebration of ‘being-Andalusian’, and every inch of the town is embellished painstakingly, like a personal living space lovingly on display.
As the day ends, find a bench to rest your exhausted legs. An elderly Spanish woman with a couple of El Cortes Ingles bags strides along the pavement at breakneck speed, with the single-minded purpose of overtaking everyone she encounters along the way. She jumps the bus queue, wiggles through a couple of teens ahead of her and pushes her way into the bus, making a loud declaration in Spanish. Was that “Let me pass, I’m in a rush”? Everyone just kept clearing the route. This little grandma is fiery and feisty. Just like Seville!
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100cobbledroads.com 
Seville sounds such a historically rich place to be in. Loved the vivid details in the post. 🙂
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Thanks so much, Jheelam!
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I have been reading your blogs for sometime now. Every time I read I feel the urge to visit these wonderful places like Seville, Cologne or Sidhpur in India. I traveled in my youth, but have not done so lately.
Your descriptive details and gorgeous photographs have rekindled the travel urge.
I eagerly wait for your blogs on Thursdays, anticipating another travel “experience”, yours for now but maybe mine in the very near future.
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That is such a wonderful comment, I feel so encouraged by what you said about my blogs having rekindled the travel urge in you!
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There are so many countries I have not visited, hopefully when I share your blogs with my husband, who is not much of a traveler, his curiosity will rise and our passports will get some exposure.
Keep them coming!
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Cheers to travel prospects!!!
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Wish I could have read this well written post before my visit several years ago! In my simple mind, the opera tune “Barber of Seville” played over and over.
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That comment has makes me smile!
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Seville is gorgeous and definitely a walking city – I love the Alhambra and gardens, it is really spectacular – did you visit?
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Yes, Alhambra is a stunning piece of architecture. The concluding part of this post will be on that…to be posted on 15th March.
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Oh how I love Andalusia. Granada is certainly a charming city. Well described. I’d love to go back one day!
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Thanks so much, but this post is on Seville, not Granada 🙂 I have a separate post on Granada on the blog in case you are interested.
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I LOVED Seville. We actually did an Andalusia road trip years ago and it’s gorgeous. I loved seeing all the olive and grape farms on the drive in.
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The road trip sounds fabulous! I can see why u loved it.
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I went to Seville years ago after college and would love to go back and this time focus on food and historical sites.
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I hope you do go again. Would love to hear about your second experience.
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I’ve only ever read about Andalusia in books, and that alone has been enough to kindle an eagerness to visit the place in me. Now, your post tempts me to plan that long-pending visit soon! 🙂
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That is such a lovely comment. My day is made 🙂 🙂
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This brought back lovely memories. My husband and I spent a good time in Seville, I can’t forget the orange trees on the streets.
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I remember the shade of those orange trees. There’s a lovely cafe behind the Barcelona Cathedral where you can have a light meal under the orange trees. Delightful !
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I’ve never been but have always wanted to visit Seville. I see so many places here in the states named after Seville and I can see why. Seville is gorgeous and the historical sites are places I’d love to see.
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But there is only one real Seville 🙂
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I haven’t been to Seville for years – I really do need to go back and explore some more. Santa Cruz looks truly fabulous.
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Seville is a town that deserves more than a single visit 🙂
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I dream of Spain and Seville is on my list. Your images are amazing, the windmills were unexpected!
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Thanks so much. Glad you liked the post 🙂
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Spain is so beautiful. Especially with the Moor influence. I have been in Malaga and that was so pretty I would love to go back. Seville is defiantly a place I would love to see.
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Malaga is on my list for future along with several other small towns of Spain.
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Some of those narrow lanes looked so familiar. I was in Seville couple of years back. The saddest part is it was only for a day. Reading your post gives me a feel so much more has been left unseen. I hope I get there again.
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Ah! So Seville calls again..
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I’ve been to Seville twice, and both times (spring break) the oranges were hanging fat on the trees, or split on the cobblestones making the air smell thick. I’ll never forget it!
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I can relate to that so well 🙂
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I have never been to Spain but it is now on my bucket list after reading your post. Seville looks like a place we would enjoy very much. I am bookmarking your post for when we visit. Thanks!
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You will love this place. A must-add if you go to Spain.
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We were in Seville for a day trip from Malaga 3 years ago. So we just got to the touristy major attractions. Too bad we didn’t get to this heart of the fiery city! Looks like I missed a cozy Spanish place!
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I haven’t been to Andalusia yet, BUT I’m heading there in two weeks! Seville has been so high on my list for a while and we’re finally going to get there for a few days before heading to Morocco! It looks like we’re going to have much to see!
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Have a fabulous time in Seville. Would highly recommend Granada and Cordoba too. I separate posts on those too. You can search for them on my blog using keywords if you like.
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I would love to visit Andalucia – it’s been on my list for a while now and I really want to do a road trip. I love the idea of staying at one of the Casa-transformed boutique hotels. We’re very big on unique, preferably historic accommodation these days, so this sounds perfect! Seville holds a very romanticized notion in my mind, it seems to have a very old world charm, with historic architecture, cobbled streets, Renaissance Revival style buildings, and a very fairytale vibe – especially the Plaza de Espana at the Parque de María Luisa. You’ve ignited my wanderlust even more than it already has been for Seville!
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Boutique hotels are my fave too. It helps build the atmosphere and adds an authentic touch when the hotel is a historic building.
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Andalusia looks lovely in your pictures and post. I would love walking along those cobbled stone streets with rich history around. Staying in the Casa turned Boutique hotel will be great. Surely gonna check this out while travelling to Spain
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I would like to go back a second time and see it differently.
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What a beautiful day-trip destination from Madrid! Love how quaint and colorful the streets are. Makes me want to take an afternoon stroll there and stop by a cafe afterwards to maybe enjoy some flamenco performance!
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Seville looks like a dream with all its colourful facades and quaint cafes! Your words actually made me virtually stroll through these vibrant streets with such a gorgeous display of architecture and history!
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Thanks so much, Divyakshi! You made my day 🙂
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Wow that is some incredible architecture!! Really like those windmills, too. Spain has so much to see – would love to visit Seville some day. Their high-speed rail is very impressive too.
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There’s something in the air of this country that captivates the heart.
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Seville is such a wonderful place, especially during the festivals. Andalucia really holds a special place in my heart. It’s the reason I always return to Spain, thanks for sharing!
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We haven’t been to the festivals, but Spain has a festive air about it all year round, don’t you think?
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We are hoping our next big trip included a visit to Spain. The culture, food and architecture has captivated our imagination. We can’t wait to follow in your footsteps and experience it ourselves!
Thanks for sharing. Keep travel blogging. Adventure is better shared with friends!
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I would love to spend a few more weeks exploring Spain. There are some places you just cannot get enough of.
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