Why do many think that there is no city in the world like Seville? To know the answer there is no better way than to go, tour it and confirm what so many affirm.
3 days in Seville without missing anything, that's the idea. We are going to fall short, of course, but if all you have is 72 hours... enjoy them!
Day 1 in Seville
I think that the best thing, when you have little time in a city with so much to see and do, is to arrive the day before, sleep and then the first day really begins in the city in question, in this case Seville.
The morning of our first day can begin by visiting the beautiful Plaza de España , where the 1929 exhibition was. It is where the government offices are, but also that curious and giant semicircular building, a mix of neo-Moorish and neo-Renaissance styles.
We also see a series of striking 48 niches decorated with tiles beautiful, ceramics very popular in Spain and Portugal. Each one represents one of the country's provinces with a fresco and its corresponding map. In addition, there are two towers, both very tall, from whose tops you can see the city in all its splendor.
And we cannot forget that in the middle of the Plaza de España, known as the Venice of Seville, There is a very beautiful canal where you can rent a boat and take a spin, crossing four little bridges that each represent the ancient kingdom of Spain.
If you leave the Plaza de España and walk for about 15 minutes crossing the Maria Luisa Park You will arrive at this neighborhood that in the 13th century was the Jewish neighborhood of Seville: the Santa Cruz neighborhood. Many of them were expelled for not converting to Christianity a century later.
Today that historical charm is full of hidden squares, old palaces and many restaurants. Here it's about walking and walking and stopping to eat something or taste some of Seville's traditional tapas.
And if you have a little more time in the neighborhood you can stop to see the Pilate's House, a beautiful palace from the 150th century, with beautiful shapes, mixing styles such as Gothic, Mudejar or Renaissance. It has XNUMX different tiles and is impressive as it has a Summer Palace, on the ground floor, and a Winter Palace, on the upper floor.
The ground floor can be visited with an audio guide, but to tour the upper floor, partially inhabited by the Dukes of Medinaceli, you must apply for a tour and pay an entrance fee. In addition, it has a beautiful garden with 24 sculptures of Greek gods and Roman emperors, so you have to dedicate a couple of hours to the visit.
El Metropolis Parasol It is less than 10 minutes walk from Casa de Pilatos, and is a modern structure built in 2011 by architect Jürgen. It is also known as the Seville mushrooms or the Encarnación Mushrooms: it has a height of 26 meters and It is the largest wooden structure in the world.
From the top, a point reached by elevator, you have a fantastic view of Seville, but the structure itself houses an archaeological museum, restaurants, cafes and shops. And if you want to end the day in a restaurant you can reserve a table at El Rinconcillo, the oldest bar in Seville. It dates back to 1670 and is tremendously popular.
Day 2 in Seville
The day of history has arrived. After an early breakfast you should go to the Real Alcázar of Seville, the oldest palace still in use in Europeto. He has more than a thousand years of life.
It was the 10th century when the Cordoba governors of Seville used it as a fort, expanded and rebuilt in the 11th century under Muslim rule. Over time, other palatial structures were added to it, so today it is a tremendous palace of different styles.
Today the upper floors are dedicated to being official residence of the Spanish royal family. The Palace of the Maidens and its huge pond in the center is a treasure, as are the gardens. The truth is that the walk through the Alcázar is going to take you a good number of hours, I would say the whole morning, so by the time you finish it will be time for lunch. Luckily there are no shortage of restaurants and tapas bars nearby.
Then it is the turn of the Cathedral of Sevilla, just a five-minute walk from the Alcázar. Originally the temple was built in the 12th century as a mosque, but when the Christians reconquered the city in the 13th century it was converted into a cathedral.
An earthquake destroyed it in 1356 and the reconstruction of the temple we see today took 73 years. Christopher Columbus rests here, nothing more and less. If you don't have much idea about the history of the city, it is always a good idea to hire a specialized guide.
The bell tower of the cathedral is the famous Giralda, symbol of Seville since the Middle Ages. It was the old minaret of the old mosque, and it remained even after the earthquake and reconstruction. Has 104 meters high and it was the tallest structure in the city for eight centuries. You can climb to the top by going up 35 ramps, the same ones that guards, donkeys and horses climbed centuries before. The truth is that the views from above are worth it.
The second day in Seville can end with enjoying a flamenco show There are many tablaos so you just have to choose one. The House of Memory is great, and so is the El Arenal tablao.
Day 3 in Seville
We have reached the last day of our hours in the city and we have seen a lot of the most important things, but not everything yet. We are left, for example, with Torre del Oro, a 36 meter high tower built in the XNUMXth century by Muslims.
The Gold Tower was once part of the wall mora that extended from the Alcázar to the rest of the city. It is right next to the Gualdalquivir River and was built to protect access and control to the city from the river. And yes, you can go up and enjoy the views.
El Naval Museum It is a good site with maps, scale models, flags and various naval equipment. Admission costs just 3 euros and admission is free on Mondays. Since we are in the river area you can walk to the Triana Market, in the neighborhood of the same name. From the Torre del Oro you arrive in just 15 minutes.
The market has a special vibe, It's great, colorful, with the sale of fresh fruits, fish, drinks and various vegetables. And luckily too there are tapas bars there so you can have lunch.
Finally, the museums. It is best to find out beforehand which museums there are in Seville and which ones you would like to visit. There are: the Museum of Fine Arts, the Museum of Flamenco Dance, with a show included, the Museum of Popular Arts and Customs, the Archaeological Museum, Carriage Museum, Military Historical Museum or the Bullfighting Museum.
Up to this point what we can see in 3 days in Seville. I think three days is enough time, but obviously it is best to stay much longer. More if we want to make a day trip, for example go to Ronda and the famous white towns of Seville.