Tour Andalucia
Seville Tour
Our Seville Tour takes you to the historic monuments of Seville allowing you to experience some
of Spain’s best monuments and soak up the atmosphere of this elegant and commanding City.
We leave the Villa at 9.30am and arrive in Seville around 10.45am. We aim to leave Seville
around 5.30pm arriving back in time for a leisurely evening & dinner.
Phase 1:
Santa Cruz and The Cathedral
Typically Andalusian, Santa Cruz (the old Jewish Quarter), the Cathedral, the Giralda, the Archivo
de Indias (Archive of the lndies) and the Alcázar, are must-see monuments of Seville. Adorned
with beautiful patios, multitudes of flowers and unbelievably narrow streets. The Barrio de Santa
Cruz, an old Jewish neighbourhood, stands in the middle of the historic centre of the city,
protected by the walls of the Alcázar. Bordering Santa Cruz stands the Cathedral and several
buildings, the most spectacular complex of monuments in the city.
To start our tour, we walk through the ‘Jardines Reales Alcazares’ park and into the Santa Cruz
area. We pass through the square of Santa Cruz which is presided over by the Cross of
Cerrajeria (locksmiths) and leaving along Santa Teresa we pass by the Convent of San Jose built
in the 17th century.
We pass through the tapas bars and small streets of Santa Cruz towards the Cathedral which we
see as we enter the Plaza Virgen de los Reyes.
The Cathedral was built on the location of the High Mosque of Seville, (demolished in the 15th
century), and for many centuries was the biggest religious monument in all of Christendom. It is
still the largest Gothic style Cathedral in the world. It contains five naves of Gothic style with a
large transept, site of the Main Chapel a construction which boasts a magnificent altarpiece and a
Plateresque Grill. The Cathedral was designed by Alonso Martinez, Simón de Colonia and Juan
Gil de Ontañón. The works were finished off in 1506, with a Plateresque Royal Chapel in the
temple's sanctuary, later used as the place of burial of Fernando Ill el Santo and his son, Alfonso
X el Sabio. The city's patron saint, Virgen de los Reyes, presides over the altar. The Cathedral
also houses the Chapel of the Virgen de la Antigua, a construction of important Colombian
influence, the sepulchre of Christopher Columbus, a choir with spectacular Mudéjar stalls and
exuberant Baroque organ boxes. The Cathedral Museum contains works by great painters,
codexes and choir books, chasubles and ornaments and a sumptuous collection of gold work.
Bordering the Cathedral are remnants of the old mosque, the Patio de Los Naranjos (Patio of the
Orange Trees) and the Giralda, the city's most prominent monument. Built on a foundation of
Roman stones carried from Itálica, it was continued in brick by the Almohades, who decorated the
façades with sebka work and poly-lobed horseshoe windows. The tower, a later Christian work, is
crowned with a spectacular Renaissance bell shaft. We recommend climbing to the top to
contemplate the splendid view of the city from the Giralda.
As we re-enter the Square of the Virgen de los Reyes on the left is the façade of the 18th-century
Palace of the Archbishop. Its colours (blood-red and ocher-yellow) are characteristic of Sevillian
Baroque constructions. As we walk towards the Alcazar The Old Diputación, (Town Hall), a 17th
century palace, presides over the Square of Triunfo. At the other end of the square stands the
lndies Archives, built in times of Felipe II. Definitely worth a visit, the interior is spectacular and
the buildings houses documents with the signatures of Christopher Columbus & Magellan.
Entry into the Alcazar is well worthwhile. You will need to spend a couple of hours inside and we
can schedule this as an option for your visit.
The Puerta del León (Lion's Door) provides access to the Alcázar, which is one of the oldest royal
residences in Europe. This location has been occupied by a series of different buildings, a Roman
acropolis, a Paleochristian Basilica, different Visigothic buildings, a Moorish castle, and the first
Moorish Fortress of the 9th century. Pedro I built the Mudéjar Palace, a mixture of Gothic
elements with Mudéjar plaster and coffer work. Especially interesting are the Patio de la Montería
(Hunting Patio), the Patio de las Doncellas (Maiden's Patio), the Patio de las Muñecas (Dolls
Patio) and the impressive Salón de Embajadores (Ambassador's Hall), with its huge golden
cupola of the mid-15th century. Next to the Mudéjar Palace stands the Palace of Carlos V,
adjacent to the Jardines del Alcázar (Alcázar gardens) of Moorish inspiration with Renaissance
and Romantic elements.
We leave the Alcázar and go back into the streets of the Barrio de Santa Cruz. Buildings,
protected by iron gates, open onto patios profusely decorated with flowers. We come to the
Square of Los Venerables, location of the Hospital de los Venerables Sacerdotes, a large
Baroque building founded in 1675 as an asylum for priests. It contains the frescoes painted by
Valdés Leal and by his son. The Hospital de los Venerables is now used for art exhibitions.
Gloria Street leads to the typical Square of Doña Elvira, and then to the Square of the Alianza,
adjacent to the Alcázar walls. Further along, Gloria Street connects with Mateos Gagos Street,
full of lively bars and taverns. Further along, on the other side of the street, is located the Parish
Church of Santa Cruz, (17th century), which contains works by excellent artists. Opposite the
church begins Guzmán el Bueno street which leads to the bay windows of the Pinelo House, site
of the Academia de Bellas Artes (Academy of Fine Arts). The building contains two beautiful
patios and rooms with Gothic, Mudéjar and Plateresque decoration.
Entrance Fees
Most of the monuments in Seville charge an entrance fee per person to help to maintain them:
€7 Mon – Sat
Free Sundays
Students €1.50
Giralda Tower €7 Mon – Sat
Free Sundays
Students €1.50
Closed Mondays
Students Free
Cathedral
The Alcazar
€5 Tues – Sun
Hospital
€5 all week
Students €2.50
de los Venerables
Phase 2
The Park
The Park of María Luisa, was donated in 1893 by the princess, Luisa Fernanda de Orleáns, and
was renovated in 1913 and again in 1929. The park contains the Plaza de España, historic in
style, built by Anibal González out of brick and ceramics. It was built for the 1929 exhibition as a
showcase for Spain’s industry and technology. It consists of a semicircular structure with a tower
at each end and a channel with bridges surrounding its inner circle. Currently it houses some
government buildings and the local council ‘El Ayuntimiento’
At the southern end of the park stands the Plaza de América (American Square), consisting of
three buildings also designed by Anibal GonzáIez for the 1929 Exhibition: the Royal Pavilion, of
Neo-Gothic style; the Mudéjar Pavilion (which contains the Museum of Art and Popular
Traditions) and finally, the Plateresque Pavilion. This last structure today houses the
Archaeological Museum, considered one of the best of Spain.