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Sevilla is situated in the south-east of Spain. A Provincial capital, seat of the government and parliament of the Comunidad Autonoma de Andalucía. It has more than 700,000 inhabitants nearly half of the population of the whole province. The city of Sevilla is located on the plain of the Guadaquivir river which crosses the city from north to south. The river can be navigated from the city all the way to its outlet on the Atlantic Coast. In the past the port of Sevilla played an important role in commerce between Spain and the Americas and remains today one of the most active river ports of the Iberian peninsula. The Tartessians were the original founders of Hispalis. Next to this settlement in 207 BC, the Romans built Italica. It was the centre of their Western Mediterrenean domains for seven centuries until the Roman empire was overrun by Northern Barbarians at the beginning of the 5th century.
The long Moorish occupation of the Iberian peninsula, from 711AD to 1248AD, left indelible traces in Sevilla as in all of al-Andalus. La Giralda, the tower of an important mosque, is the most well known of the remaining Islamic monuments In 1492 Sevilla played an important role in the discovery and conquest of America. The 17th Century was a period of artistic splendor in Sevilla. Painters such as Murillo and Valdes Leal, and sculptors Martinez Montanes were born in Sevilla and left behind important works. The city also assumed an important role in world literature and was the birthplace of the myth of Don Juan.
For all its important monuments and fascinating history, Sevilla is universally famous for being a joyous town. While the Sevillians are known for their wit and sparkle, the city itself is striking for its vitality. It is the largest town in southern Spain, the city of Carmen, Don Juan and Figaro. The Sevillians are great actors and put on an extraordinary performance at their annual Fería de Abril, a week-long party of drink, food and dance which takes place day and night in more than a thousand especially mounted tents. But above all it allows the men to parade on their fine horses and the women to dance in brilliantly coloured gypsy dresses.
In Sevilla, you will want to visit the old city, with the Cathedral and the Giralda tower at its heart. (You can climb the steps inside the tower for a magnificent view of the city). Very close by are the royal Mudéjar palaces known as the Alcazar with marvellous gardens and the Santa Cruz quarter, with cramped streets, flowered balconies, richly decorated facades, hidden patios... Other sights not to be missed are, in the old city, the Casa de Pilatos, a large sixteenth-century mansion where Mudejar, Gothic and Renaissance styles blend harmoniously amidst exuberant patios and gardens and, crossing the Triana bridge over the large Guadalquívir river, the lively popular quarter of Triana with charming narrow streets around the church of Santa Ana and traditional ceramic factories.
The minaret was erected during the Almohad period near the end of the 12th century; there are two sister towers also build by the Almohades: the Hassan in Rabat and the Kutnbis in Marrakech. The tower, almost 100 metres high, is decorated outside with arabesque and mullioned windows which give it a delicate touch. The tower was completed with four gold-plated bronze globes but an earthquake destroyed them and they were replaced in 1568 with four Renaissance elements supporting the popular weather cock. The Gothic style dominates the cathedral which was commenced in 1420, although later work was Renaissance. According to legend, the town council appointed all the famous architects, scultpors and stone masons to build the greatest temple on earth, and they almost succeded as Sevilla cathedral is depicted on the floor of the Vatican in Rome as the third biggest Christian temple. When you enter this immense church you enter into a world of art where every piece is worth looking at. The Main Chapel, which holds the oldest Christian altarpiece, is 200 square metres in size with more than a thousand figures depicting the holy story. No less that 26 artists from different parts of the world worked on this piece. Our curiosity will be aroused by the pompous collection of sculpures which are one of the latest additions to the temples treasures. We are referring to the romantic tomb of Christopher Columbus. It was brought here in 1899 from the Habana cathedral. A typical statue of St. Christopher stands behind it as according to tradition, whoever looks at Saint Christopher is guaranteed the following 24 hours of life. The four figures supporting the tomb represent the then four kingdoms of Spain. The Patio de los Naranjos is the only cloister in the cathedral. It was once the patio of an ancient mosque and is mentioned in all the best loved cliches about the city. There is a fountain in the centre which comes from a Visigotic cathedral. A curious object is found beside the Lagarto door, through an original mosque arch; it is a wooden crocodile hanging from the roof which gave rise to well known legends of princesses and dragons, however, it is seemingly a Saurian replica which was sent to Alfonso X by the Sultan of Egypt in 1260, at a time when such a reptile was considered a monster in these parts.
Built at the end of the 15th century, it combines the Mudejar, Renaissance and Gothic styles. According to legend, it is thus named as it is a true reproduction of the palace of Pontius Pilate in Jeruselem. Rooms, which have been converted into an interesting museum of classic statuary, open up onto the main patio, with the best example of Spanish enamel tiles. reales alcazares Despite the Arab influences which reigns in these palaces, little remains of the first Mosque constructions. Only the wall around the castle is still standing. The Puerta del Leon which is the entrance dates back to the 12 century. The enclosure continues right up to the banks of the Guadalquivir, with the towers of the Abdelaziz, the Torre de Plata and the Torre de Oro, which faced another sister tower on the other side of the river, hence forming a barrier to prevent enemy ships from entering. Fire, earthquakes, reforms and later extentions either wiped out or absorbed these early structures. What we see now is the Castle of King Peter, built in 1364, one of the most complete examples of Mudejar art, that is to say a Christian palace finished by Islamic or Christian craftsmen with a Muslem artistic training, who created a jewel box of Mudejar patios and halls. The Palacio Pedro I now at the heart at the of the Reales Alcazares. Later monarchs added their own distinguishing marks: Isabella I dispatched navigators to exlore the New World from her Casa de la Contratacion, while Carlos I (the holy Emperor Carlos V), had grandiose, richly decorated apartments built.
This impressive tower along with the Torre de Plata, the Silver Tower, was originally built as part of the cities defence system, linking up with the Alcazar. A mighty metal chain was stretched between the two to prevent hostile ships from sailing upriver. The turret was not added until 1760. The gold referred to in its name may be the gilded tiles that once clad its walls or treasures from the Americas that were unloaded here. The tower has had many uses, a chapel, a gun-powder store, a prison and port offices. Now it is a maritime museum. Another impressive landmark and almost opposite the Torre de Oro is the Plaza de Toros, Sevillas famous bullring called La Maestranza. It was built between 1761 and 1881 and is arguably the most magnificent in Spain and well worth a visit. The arcaded arena holds up to 14,000 spectators. One interesting feature of the building is that the bullring itself is not quite circular. The Puerta del Principe is an important feature of La Maestranza, for it is through this gate that triumphant bullfighters are carried upon the shoulders of their admiring fans. The museum displays an interesting assortment of posters, paintings, busts, costumes and other momentoes from the world of bullfighting.
Itálica was founded in 206 BC by Scipio Africanus. One of the earliest Roman cities in Hispania, it grew to be one of the most important during the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD. Emperors Trajan and Hadrian were both born in the city and the latter, who reigned from 138-117 BC, added marble temples and other grand buildings.
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