Travel guide Sevilla

The construction of this fortified palace began under the impulse of the Almohads, then it was Peter the Cruel who, inspired by the Alhambra of Granada, asked architects and Mudejar workers to complete the construction of theReales Alcázares. Emblem of the city, the RealesAlcázares is now a Unesco World Heritage Site.

Its name comes from the Arabic azulaj meaning "small stone" because it was the Moors who introduced this technique of glazing the material, starting in the 11th century. In Seville, these glazed ceramic tiles adorn restaurants, streets, hotels, patios, public gardens ... Especially in the Triana district.

They are waiting for you at the foot of the Giralda. If they are not used by the inhabitants to move around on a daily basis, they will be a pleasant means of transport to criss-cross the city, at a slow pace. The ride lasts a little less than an hour and will lead you to the discovery of sites not to be missed such as the Maria Luisa park or the Plaza de España

It is in Seville, in the XIXth century, that Carmen, which inspired Georges Bizet, knew its tragic destiny. One of the most performed French operas in the world. It tells the story of an Andalusian gypsy, as whimsical as she is passionate, who lives without restraint and takes with her a brigadier, whom she will abandon for a bullfighter.

The Real Casa de Contratación de Indias was a Spanish royal colonial administration, created in Seville on January 20, 1503, during the Spanish colonization of America. It controlled all trade in the Spanish Indies. Replaced by the Archivos de las Indias, the Archives of the Indies, the building is also a Unesco heritage site.

It was in Seville that he is said to have met the prior of the La Rábida monastery, who introduced him to Isabella of Castile, enabling him to obtain funding for his first voyage, after years of discussions. The body of the famous navigator now rests in Seville Cathedral, having previously been in the La Cartuja monastery.

It's an elf, a will-o'-the-wisp... But it's also a kind of state of grace for the sender (singer, dancer, musician...) and something akin to trance for the receiver (audience). This word expresses the magic of flamenco, the artistic catharsis of the Andalusians. It can't be explained any more than that; it has to be lived, felt.

It is the indispensable accessory of the Sevillanas of all ages. Only they know the art of handling it with dexterity. In Seville, it is everywhere as soon as spring appears and it is not a luxury when temperatures exceed 30°C. There are all kinds, all colors, wood, ivory, plastic and at any price.

To honor this symbol of Sevillian folklore, every two years the city organizes an internationally renowned event: the Flamenco Biennial; an opportunity to discover this powerful expression of the Andalusian soul. For more than a month, the best artists come together in Seville to give the public unforgettable moments.

Symbol of Seville, the old minaret of the Great Mosque of Almohad dating from the twelfth century became the bell tower of the cathedral of Seville, at the time of the reconquest. Rising to more than 98 m, it has no less than 25 bells. Its giraldillo, a small weathervane, weighs about 1,300 kg, but being hollow, it twirls with every gust of wind.

Crossing the Andalusian capital from north to south, it is to Seville what the Danube is to Budapest. Powerful and 579 km long, it gives the city its quiet strength. You can stroll along its banks or paddle its course in a boat or canoe. Its vast plain, the largest in Spain, has been responsible for all the agricultural development in the area.

Varied and diverse, tapas are a miniature representation of regional gastronomic specialties. In Seville, people gather in bars or restaurants to enjoy, often standing around a high table or a barrel, some typical tapas: serrano ham, salmorejo, gazpacho, queso viejo (old cheese).