Seville – The Folklore City at the Guadalquivir

Seville (Spanish: Sevilla) is the capital of the province of the same name and of the community of Andalusia. With about 700,000 inhabitants, it is the fourth biggest Spanish city. The metropolis, which lies on a fertile and richly vegetated plain as well as at the banks of the River Guadalquivir, is an important centre of industry and tourism. The Mediterranean, partly oceanic, climate creates mild temperatures throughout the year, which makes subtropical and tropical plants such as date, rubber, magnolia and orange trees grow here without any difficulties. It hardly gets colder than 15 °C in winter and temperatures of 30 °C and more are common in summer.

The cultural metropolis of Seville, the cradle of flamenco as well as the home of Don Juan, Carmen and Figaro, cannot deny its Moorish past. Numerous buildings such as the tower Giralda, which is 76 metres high, a remnant of the former main mosque and an important landmark of the city, the Torre del Oro (part of the former city wall) or the palace Alcázar bear witness to the rule of the Arabs, which lasted almost 800 years. The Christians left their mark too, for example in the form of Seville Cathedral (Santa Maria de la Sede), which was built in the 15th century and is the greatest sacred building in the whole of Spain as well as the world's third biggest Cultural Heritage site. It accommodates the tomb of Christopher Columbus, who studied the maps for his discovery at the banks of the Guadalquivir and set off close to the city. Besides the beautiful alleys in the district of Santa Cruz, worthwhile sights in Seville are the impressive Plaza de España ("Spain Sqaure"), the Casa de Pilatos ("Pilate's House"), the amphitheatre, the exchange with the Archivo General de Indias, the Triana Bridge and the Plaza de América in the monumental Maria Luisa Park. In addition, the city has a number of interesting museums such as the Museo Taurino, the Cathedral Museum, the Naval Museum or the Museo del Baile Flamenco, which is the only flamenco museum on earth.

Seville is home to the world-famous tapas, small warm or cold appetisers. To them people often have a glass of wine, beer or sherry. In addition, you find fish and seafood, traditional stews, gazpacho as well as desserts like mantecadas, tortas de aceite, yemas or torrijas on the menu in Andalusia's capital. Travellers can try these local dishes at one of the city's most significant festivals, for example. The Feria de Abril is the most important celebration in Seville, next to the Semana Santa (Holy Week), and is the world's greatest fair after the Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany. The whole city is in an exceptional state at that time. Countless party tents, women in flamenco dresses, men in traditional suits, horse-drawn carriages and crowds of visitors roam the streets. This unique spectacle starts with the testing of the lights. A vast number of light bulbs and colourful lights illuminate the festival grounds, the Calle del Infierno (a kind of amusement park) and the main gate, which is almost 50 metres high. At other times of the year, visitors can enjoy the city's cuisine and nightlife in many bars, pubs, restaurants and discos. Furthermore, numerous live music performances, theatrical performances and flamenco shows offer entertainment.

Besides the typical sightseeing tours on foot or by bus, you can go on a comfortable carriage ride to explore the city. The drivers of the horse-drawn carriages do not only act as tourist guides but also tell anecdotes and stories. As a trip to Seville is inevitably linked with the flamenco, a flamenco show is a must for every traveller of the metropolis. You can enjoy the spirited dance in bars, restaurants and several theatres for free.

Thanks to the everlasting mild climate, you can visit Seville at any time of the year. Travellers who want to avoid crowds of people, should not travel the city in April, when the Holy Week and the Feria take place. Hotel prices are almost twice as expensive during that time.