Sevilla: Sites of Interest

Barrio de Santa Cruz

The Barrio is the old historic Jewish quarter of the city around the Cathedral, and is a veritable labyrinth of narrow cobblestone streets. Travelers can explore old palaces, the house of the Barber of Seville, or the statue of Don Juan. Seville's ancient streets bear the imprint of the multitude of peoples and cultures that have called this city home: Romans, Visigoths, Muslims, Jews and Christian.

Cathedral

The Cathedral is an exceptional testimony to the civilization of the Almohadesas well as the Christians of Andalusia, dating from the re-conquest of 1248 to the 16th century. The Giralda minaret, masterpiece of Almohad architecture, next to the cathedral with five naves, is the largest Gothic edifice in Europe, and contains the tomb of Christopher Columbus.

Alcazar

Just as beautiful as the Alhambra in Granada, the alcazar is a wonderful place to spend an afternoon wondering through the cool courtyards and marvel at the Moorish architecture. The gardens are a virtual paradise, and many of the trees and plants are those brought back by Columbus and later explorers from the New World.

La Macarena

This area is located in the northwest part of the old quarter where a church and neighborhood are named after the city's virgin La Macarena. The attractions here are the old convents and churches tucked away in the small alleyways and winding maize like streets.

Parque de Maria Luisa

This is a beautiful park full of vegetation, small ponds with ducks and swans, benches, sculptures, and winding pathways shaded under a huge canopy of trees. This is an excellent place to go for a nice afternoon stroll or to cool off in the midday heat during the summer. In addition to the park the Plaza de Espana is also an impressive sight worth seeing. Originally built for the Ibero-American world fare, this plaza is beautifully constructed in a semicircle. Not only is the architecture impressive but also each major historical event and city in the History of Spain is represented in beautiful painted mosaic tile. Cities such as Salamanca to Zarragoza and the expulsion of the moors are all represented here.

Museums

Museo Provincial de Bellas Artes
This museum is probably the best in Seville and for good reason. On display are works by several masters but most notably Murillo, Valdes, Leal, Zurbaran, and El Greco.

Museo de Arte Contemporaneo
This museum, as its name indicates, is home to many works by contemporary 20th century painters. The most well known painter is the great Joan Miro.

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