Seville in 3 days

I’ve wanted to visit Seville for years, and somehow I could never find a decent flight to get there. So when my childhood friend told me she’ll be there for a week, I had to make my way there! Here are the highlights of my trip, the main attractions I’ve seen in my short visit there.

Firstly I would suggest to visit this beautiful city in spring or early fall, even winter. This is because summers can get super hot in the region. I went at the beginning of May and it was already 27C. If you do visit in summer make sure you have a bottle of water with you, or take frequent stops to refresh with some cold cerveza!

Seville Plaza de España

This beautiful plaza, called Plaza de España, build in 1928, was one of the main reasons I’ve wanted to come here in forever! Many cities in Spain have a plaza that is called the same, but this one is by far my favourite. Surrounded by the Maria Luisa Park, it’s the perfect spot to spend half day and just unwind. You can rent a boat, admire the different tiles representing different provinces of Spain or just take a walk around plaza or park.

The Real Alcazar of Seville

Are you an admirer of the detailed and intricate Moorish and Mudéjar architecture? If so, you should pay a visit to the Real Alcazar of Seville. I think it’s as beautiful as the Alhambra of Granada. The Alcazar, together with the Cathedral and the General Archives of the Indies were declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. You could visit the Alcazar palace for hours, learning about its history, and walking through the different rooms and vast gardens. I recommend you get your ticket online to skip the long line.

Casa de Pilatos

Another splendid example of Mudéjar architecture mixed with Italian Renaissance is found in this casa. Here is where the duchess of Medinaceli currently lives, in a separate wing of the building. This “House” is quite big and has many saloons and beautiful gardens with colourful flowers and Italian statues. You can just get your ticket at the door, and if you want to visit during a quieter time I suggest lunch time.

The Cathedral and Girlanda of Seville

The famous Cathedral of Seville is a roman cathedral also known by the Spanish name of Catedral de Santa María de la Sede. It is the third largest cathedral in the world and the 3rd largest Gothic cathedral. Apparently the remains of Christopher Columbus are buried here along with Ferdinand III of Castile and his descendants, Alfonso the Wise and Pedro el Cruel.

The cathedral has suffered many transformations throughout the years. Initially built as a mosque in 1100’s, it became a “christianised mosque” shortly after Ferdinand III’s conquest of Seville. Later on, in 1500’s, on top of the mosque the gothic cathedral was built, as a huge project, aiming to build a unique cathedral, like no other in the world. I think they accomplished what they set for!

If you want to have a good viewpoint over the city, I suggest you make your way up the 100m tall Giralda, which is a minaret converted into the bell tower of the cathedral. Instead of stairs the tower has a series of ramps that used to accommodate people and animals (horses, donkeys) going up to the top.

Right next to the Cathedral and Giralda is the Plaza Virgen de los Reyes. In this plaza you can also see the Arzobispal Palaca and the Convento de la Encarnacion.

El Divino Salvador Church

This baroque church is located in the Divino Salvador plaza and it was built on the site of Muslim Ishbiliya‘s main mosque. When entering this church you can also get your tickets for the Cathedral and Giralda, this way you skip the lines.

Inside the church the altar is one of the most representative works of baroque style in Seville.

Plaza del Salvador

Plaza del Salvador is hosting the El Divino Salvador Church mentioned above and also the Hospital de Nuestra Señora de la Paz. And as you can see it’s a great hangout place for locals and tourists alike.

Metropol Parasol

The giant wooden sculpture that is mimicking mushrooms, is one of the highlights of my trip. I like it so much because it’s a unique architecture and also you can get nice views over the city while on top. Going up only cost 3 euros and the line took just 5 minutes. You are going up and down by elevator and on top you can enjoy a cold beverage and a slice of cake. The rest of the roof is not accessible for wheelchairs, because it has a number of steps up and down.

The streets of Seville

You can just go for a walk in the old part of the city, and you won’t be disappointed. Don’t forget to look up as you walk along, or you will miss some really cool and colourful buildings.

Flamenco performances

If you’re in luck you can see a flamenco performance on the street like I did. I actually saw two of them! If you prefer something different you can go to the Museum of Flamenco for a performance, or to a place where you can get a drink and enjoy it! I would suggest the second one 😉

Horse and carriage tours

A good way to see Seville is by horse and carriage. A trip around the town to see the main attractions will take just under an hour and will cost you about 45 euros. I was super tempted to get into one of these because my back hurts when I walk more than a couple hours. But then I started to read about it, and many people say the horses are not very well taken care of. They stay long hours tied to the carriage and many times without sufficient water or shade. While the opinions on this are divided, I decided to walk instead. If you do opt for a carriage ride, they are all around the main attractions, especially near the cathedral and Plaza de Espana.

Recommended central hotels with local charm:

• Hotel Las Casas de la Juderia
• Los Casas de la Mercaderes (its where I stayed)
• Hotel Fernando III
• Hotel Casa Imperial
• Vincci La Rabida