Sevilla: Brief History

The area in which Seville is located was were the first Roman colony governed the whole of Spain for more than six centuries from the city of Italica which can still be visited today. During this time the Romans changed the face of the countryside and towns, building aqueducts and long straight roads to link the major towns.

However the Muslim civilization had the most impact on the city. Their reignlasted for nearly 800 years in Andalusia from 711 until 1492 when the Catholic monarchs defeated the Moslem kingdom of Granada. Some of the city's most magnificent buildings stand as a legacy to this era. After the discovery of the Americas Seville became the hub of all trade and traffic to the new world and as a result became one of the richest cities in Spain and Europe. For this reason many aristocrats and painters, made Seville one of the most cosmopolitan hangouts in Europe. Lavish Renaissance and baroque buildings blossomed, and many stars of Spain's artistic golden age Zubarán, Murillo, Juan de Valdés Leal were based there.

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