Top Things To Do And See In Seville Spain

Seville, famous for its flamenco dancing and architectural designs, is the largest city in Southern Spain. It was said to have been built by Hercules himself and its fascinating history makes it one of Spain’s most intriguing places to visit. With a smorgasbord of sights and activities, this city will never leave visitors stuck for choice.

Fancy a trip to Seville? Highlights of our four-day Mini Trip to Seville include a tour of the city’s sights before visiting nearby Cadiz and Jerez.

Plaza de Toros

Bullfighting might be a controversial subject but ‘The Bullring’ is one of Seville’s most popular sights. Thought to be one of the finest bullrings in the country, the ‘Plaza de Toro’ is full of Spanish history and tradition. Built between 1762 and 1881, the arena holds 14,000 spectators with acoustics that allow them to hear everything, no matter where they were seated. There are still fights held today, but if you prefer to visit at a quieter time, the arena alone is a wonderful sight to behold with its late baroque architecture and impressive main entrance with a structure of exposed stone.

Catedral de Sevilla

Cathedral, Mosque

Carriage rides offered outside Seville Cathedral and the General Archive of the Indies building, UNESCO, Seville, Andalusia, Spain

Built between 1402 and 1517, Seville Cathedral is one of the largest in the world. It stands at an enormous 126 meters long and 83 meters wide with a ceiling height of 37 meters. The classical exterior draws visitors into an equally impressive interior. For example, the main alter piece, built between 1482 and 1564 by Pierre Dancart, consists of 36 gilded panels, gently glimmering through the space. Globe-trotters can also pay their own homage to one of the world’s greatest travelers – the cathedral holds the sarcophagus of Christopher Columbus. A definite must-see.

Museo Arqueológico de Sevilla

Museum

Originally built as part of the 1929 Ibero-American exhibition, Seville’s archaeological museum is placed within a beautiful neo-renaissance pavilion. The museum holds a number of wonderful and precious artifacts including those from the Phoenicians, Romans, Tartesians, and a number of noteworthy pieces of art and sculpture including the statue of Venus de Itálica. However, the Carambolo Treasure is definitely a must see. Discovered in 1958, these treasures include a gold necklace and pieces of a crown thought to date back to the 6th century.

Museo del Baile Flamenco

Building, Museum

As a city famous for its wonderful flamenco dancers, what better way than a museum to celebrate this fine art. A brilliant way to learn about Spanish culture, Museo del Baile Flamenco is dedicated to informing visitors by bringing together the elements of song, dance and guitar. The museum is located at the highest point of Seville and is built within an 18th century building which was constructed upon the foundations of a Roman temple. Perhaps one of the most technologically advanced museums in Spain, interactive exhibitions explore everything from music to costume. Exhibits include paintings and drawings whilst dance and music classes are also offered. Daily flamenco shows are also offered and are highly recommended.

Plaza de España

Cathedral, Park

Seville, Spain. Spanish Square (Plaza de Espana)

Located within Maria Luisa Park, Plaza de España was built as a centerpiece for the 1929 Ibero-American Exhibition. Described as one of Seville’s most impressive sights, the plaza measures at 50,000 square meters. Only a twenty minute walk from Seville Cathedral, this is one of Seville’s more popular locations and with a canal measuring 500 meters, the plaza is known as ‘the Venice of Seville’. It is a magnificent sight and a must see, with its colored ceramics and 48 tiled alcoves, each representing a different province of Spain. This attraction is not only popular with tourists and visitors as it has been used for the location of a number of films including Lawrence of Arabia and Star Wars.

Maria Luisa Park

Botanical Garden, Museum, Park

Maria Luisa Park acted as the site of the Ibero-American Exhibition in 1929. Filled with orange trees, palm trees and flower beds, it is the perfect place to unwind. With a number of colorfully tiled benches and fountains erected in a Moorish style, this park brings a touch of the exotic to the city. It is surrounded by a number of historic sites and wonderful architectural buildings which allows visitors to indirectly appreciate the beauty of Seville. Apart from walking, there are a number of ways to travel around the park, including boat, bike or the more romantic horse and carriage.

Metropol Parasol

Museum

In terms of architecture, Seville does not just embrace its historic past, but also the present. The Metropol Parasol, also known as the ‘Mushrooms of the Incarnation’, built between 2005 and 2011 is one of Seville’s newest architectural ventures. It is the largest wooden structure in the world with dimensions of 150 by 70 meters and stands at a height of an impressive 26 meters. This new site is home to a museum, which houses Roman remains found during the beginning of construction. However, the most impressive feature is ‘The Looker’ (el Mirador), which allow visitors to admire the view from the very top of the Parasol.

Casa de Pilatos

Building

Once owned by the Marquis of Tarifa, the 16th century Casa de Pilatos was fashioned in the style of Renaissance design after his tour around Europe and the Holy Land. The building is commonly called the ‘House of Pilate’ as it was thought to resemble the Pontius Pilate’s home in Jerusalem. The courtyard, with its amazingly intricate tile and plaster work is the real highlight. It even includes statues from the Roman era depicting Minerva, Ceres and a dancing Muse. However, most impressive is the original Greek statue of Athena dating back to the 5th century.

Mercado de Triana

Market

Triana Market is a wonderful way to escape the busy tourist areas of Seville and find oneself face to face with the locals. Found in Triana, locally known as the ‘Independent Republic of Triana’ due to its strong personal identity, this indoor market is an opportunity to do something a little different. Granted, this market only sells food, but the buzzing atmosphere created here is definitely something to be experienced. This district is celebrated for its ceramic tiles, usually made from the mud of the riverbank and used in the vendor’s signs.

Universidad de Sevilla (Real Fabrica de Tabacos)

Seville University dates back to the 16th century and is one of the oldest universities in the Spanish-speaking world. Today it has a number of different campuses spread out across the city. The university is completely free to enter which makes a trip there all the better. A worth-while visit would be to the university’s most famous campus, the Royal Tobacco Factory. Used as a tobacco factory until the 1950’s this building is an impressive one. Built in the 18th century, it was at this time the largest factory in the world, taking 42 years to build and comes complete with a moat and drawbridges as well as a prison originally used for protesting workers.