The capital of Andalusia is located in southern Spain on the banks of the Guadalquivir River. It has a rich history and the Moorish influence is evident, even more so in the historical center of Santa Cruz. This area is best explored on foot, as Santa Cruz is a maze of narrow alleyways lined with shops, restaurants and some of the city’s most famous sights. A romantic horse-drawn carriage tour is great to explore more of what Seville has to offer.
Santa Cruz Highlights
Cathedral & La Giralda
This monumental 15thcentury Gothic cathedral was erected on the site of an old mosque. The towering minaret was converted into the cathedral’s bell tower, the Giralda. Climbing to the top is well worth the effort to get a bird’s-eye view of the city.
Also, the cathedral is the final resting place of Christopher Columbus, although some argue that his remains are in Santo Domingo, the Dominican Republic’s capital. Furthermore, it seems that the explorer’s continued his journey even in death as his remains were moved more than once!
Real Alcazar
The historical center’s Moorish royal palace is another important landmark. The complex dates back to the time of the Moorish rulers but incorporate Moorish, Gothic and Renaissance elements.
Unfortunately, we didn’t have enough time to visit this site in-depth because our time in Seville was much too short. Also, since we had visited the Alhambra in Granada the day before we opted to explore more of the area.
Plaza de España
This beautiful plaza, located next to the Maria Luisa Park, was designed to commemorate the 1929 Ibero-American Exposition. There is a canal with colorful bridges and a huge fountain sits in the middle of the plaza. It’s a lovely place to visit and people-watch.
Rio Guadalquivir
A cruise along the Guadalquivir River is ideal to see some of Seville’s monuments. The Torre del Oro stand out among others. Built around 1220 to protect the city from invasions, the defensive tower is now the maritime museum. From the boat we also saw some of the pavilions from the world fair of 1992 and of the 1929 Ibero-American Exposition.
We visited Seville as a day trip from the Costa del Sol which was only long enough to get a glimpse of what this city has to offer its visitors. We hope to have the chance to revisit someday… perhaps as part of a self-guided road trip in Spain’s Andalusia province.
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