Spain is culture

A blend of art traditions

Many civilisations have come and gone in the city of Seville. The Tartessians founded Hispalis, next to which in the year 207 B. C. the Romans built the standout settlement of Italica. The presence of the Moors, from 711 to 1248, left permanent imprints on the city. The end of the Cordovan Caliphate ( 11th century) led to the height of the Taifa Kingdom of Seville. The city lived its height of splendour thanks to the Discovery of America, since thanks to the immense trade carried out during that period in Seville, many mansions, stately homes, churches and convents were built.

At present, the monuments and buildings comprising the Cathedral (with its former minaret, the Giralda tower and its Orange Tree Courtyard), the Reales Alcázares palace (with its Mudejar decoration) and the Archive of the Indies (an example of Spanish Renaissance art), all declared World Heritage Sites by the UNESCO are the city’s emblem.

Another important Renaissance building is the Casa de Pilatos. We can also head to the Baroque façade of the Royal Tobacco Factory, San Telmo Palace, María Luisa Park and the Plaza de España.

On the banks of the Guadalquivir River are the Torre del Oro tower (home to the Naval Museum) and the emblematic Real Maestranza de Caballería bullring.

The centre of Seville offers its renowned streets, such as Sierpes or Campana and many churches, hospitals and Renaissance and Baroque palaces. In turn, La Macarena neighbourhood is home to the Alameda de Hércules boulevard, the Cinco Llagas hospital, La Macarena Basilica and San Lorenzo Church.

Another very Spanish area of the city is Triana, on the other riverbank. Its sailing history can be seen in Pureza, Betis and Alfarería streets and the Plaza del Altozano. The Parish Church of Santa Ana and the Chapel of Cristo de la Expiración intertwine with colourful houses and 19th century touches.

The Island of La Cartuja is located on this side of the river and is where the architectural legacy from the Universal Exhibition of 1992 mixes with the Monumental Site of La Cartuja and the Andalusian Centre for Contemporary Art.

Museums in Seville

A journey around Seville offers museums such as the Fine Arts Museum, one of the most important in Spain in its speciality. Works by El Greco, Velázquez, Zurbarán and Valdés Leal can be seen here, alongside its standout collection of paintings by Murillo.

In turn, the Cathedral Museum exhibits valuable collections of craftsmanship in precious metals, paintings, shrines, jewels and religious finery. For a full vision of the city’s Roman past, nothing beats the Provincial Archaeology Museum and the Condesa de Lebrija House-Museum. If you have time, pay a visit to the nearby Archaeological Site of Italica.

Not forgetting the Museum of Art and Popular Traditions and other art centres and galleries such as the Bullfighting Museum, the Focus Foundation or the San Clemente Monastery Exhibition Room.

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