Thanks to its rich history, Seville is full of important buildings and monuments. Also as it is the home of bullfighting and flamenco there are many activities related to those subjects all year round. Deep inside Sevillian culture tapas and ceramics lay, becoming an important component of the city as well. Seville is full of things to do and see therefore it is important to have clear in mind which are the main tourist attractions in order to make sure they are visited.



In the old city tourists would like to visit the Cathedral and Giralda Tower at its hearth. The enormous Cathedral stands on the ground where a Mosque of the 12th century took place. It covers an area of 11,520 square meters with a central nave that rises 42 meters to the sky and side chapels as tall as an ordinary church with monuments of successive ages. The decoration is simple and there is a perfect balance between its parts. La Giralda Tower was the minaret of the mosque previous to the cathedral and as the Lonely Planet on its Spain guide accurately describes it: Its proportions, delicate patterned brick decoration and colour which changes with the light, make it perhaps the most perfect Islamic building in Spain. There are some additions made to the building by the Christians and opinion is divided on whether it has improved or spoiled the tower.

Another important sight is the Patio de los Naranjos, it was once the courtyard of the mosque and it is called the Orange Patio due to the fact that it has a plantation of over 60 orange trees.

Very close by are the Royal Mujedar Palace known as the Alcazar and the Santa Cruz quarter. In regards to the Alcazar, there are several versions of the history of this place. Some affirm the Alcazar was built by Muslim rulers in the 10th century and others say it was King Pedro the cruel using Moorish workmen. Anyways it has been adapted and enlarged in many occasion depending on the monarchs. Surely this beautiful place with its rooms, chambers, patios and gardens can not be missed. On the other hand, the Santa Cruz quarter was the medieval Jewish quarter of Seville. It is a picturesque neighbourhood with narrow streets and whitewashed houses.

El archivo de indias is a very important place as well because it is the main archive on the conquest and colonisation of America. It houses over 40 million documents dating from 1492 through to the end of the empire in the 19th century. Also la Casa de Pilatos is a very interesting place, the first Marquis of Tarifa tried to resemble in this building the palace of Pontius Pilate in Jerusalem. Subsequent owners have contributed to the building over time which has resulted in a nice mixture of diverse architectural styles.

Finally, the city walls and gates as well as the Maria Luisa Park are unmissable. Formerly Seville was a strongly fortified city. The walls were designed not only to defend the city but to prevent floods from the Guadalquivir River. From the original 166 watchtowers and 9 gates only 3 of each of them remain. In terms of gates: Puerta de Cordoba, Puerta Macarena and Postigo del Aceite and towers: Torre de Oro, Torre de Plata and Torre Blanca. The park is a paradise within the city, it is full of palms and orange trees, elms and Mediterranean pines combined with ponds and pavilions.