Birthplace of Flamenco, domain of the Bullfight and home of Carmen, Don Jaun and Figaro, the city of Seville and romance are inseparable. Legend has it that Hercules was Seville’s founding father and appropriately it is now one of the largest historical centres in Europe. The largest town in southern Spain, it has a reputation for being a joyous place, a fact upheld by the witty charm and geniality of the residents.
Arriving in Seville one cannot help but be taken aback by the tremendous wealth of striking architecture to admire. Of particular interest is Barrio Santa Cruz. This maze of winding cobbled streets and plazas flanked by orange trees is very much in character with Seville`s romantic image. Here the piece de resistance is the cavernous Gothic Cathedral, one of the three largest in the world, along with St.Pauls in London and St. Peters in Rome. Inside it is even more breathtaking, an almost dizzying array of traditional Spanish religious structures and decorations gathered below an intricate canopy of lavish gothic vaulting. Close to the Cathederal’s south door stands the Tomb of Christopher Columbus, which is believed to hold the remains of the Spain’s greatest explorer. Built from a design by Arturao Melida in 1891 it features 4 pallbearers, each of which represents one of the Kingdoms of the Spanish Crown of 1492.

Almost as imposing as the Cathedral is its nearest neighbour, the towering Giralda, which stands as an impressive reminder of the splendid mosque that once stood on the site. Cross the Plaza del Triunfo and you’ll come across the mystical and elaborate Palace of Alcazar, one of the best surviving examples of Mudejar architecture, with its royal palaces and lush gardens of Pedro 1 and Carlos V. Also In Barrio Santa Cruz is the Archivo de Indias, which houses over 80 million pages of historic documents pertaining to Spain’s discovery and conquest of the New World.

With such a wealth of art, culture and history it is clear why Sellilanos are so fiercely proud and defensive of their traditions and nowhere is this more apparent than at the Bullfight. Despite numerous high profile campaigns to abolish Spain’s national sport, its popularity remains on the increase. There are over seventy bullrings in Andalusia alone and the most important, the Real Maestranza and Plaza de Toros, are both in Seville.

If you’re looking for spectacle and Bullfighting is not to your liking, then Flamenco dancing offers an exhilarating romantic treat. Probably the best place to enjoy Spain’s most passionate dance is in one of the many bars that host Flamenco nights. Although some may be lacking in authenticity this is more than made up for by the vibrant atmosphere this exciting dance creates. For authentic displays, Los Gallos on Plaza de Santa Cruz comes highly recommended. You may even be lucky enough to catch a performance by one of Spain’s big-name Flamenco dancers at the Tearto Central on Isla de La Cartuja.

As befits a place that is the setting for two of the worlds most loved operas, Carmen and The Barber of Seville, the city has an excellent reputation for theatre and music. Seville’s flagship opera house Teatro de la Maestranza was built for Expo ’92 and incorporates the original façade of Maestranza de Artilleria. This magnificent hall has the largest stage in Europe and seating for up to 1800 people. Various subsidies ensure that it can afford world-class artists, virtually guaranteeing performances of invariably excellent quality.

The Sevillanos are almost fanatical about their reputation for enjoying life and, in accordance, there are more bars per square meter here than anywhere else in the country. At night the town resembles a huge drinking and dining theme park and, although it may not be as easy on you pocket as many Spanish cities, the quality of the restaurant food is generally excellent.To make your stay more affordable it is wise to follow the age-old advice offered by discerning travellers the world over – eat where the locals eat, and a favourite Sevillano pastime Tappas hopping. Most of the bars in the centre serve a selection of these traditional Spanish snacks and a few hours sampling the various regional delights is an ideal way to eat drink and be merry.

The capital of Andalucia, Seville boasts a rich and varied history: originally settled by the Romans, it went on to become one of the capitals of Muslim Iberia during medieval times, an 800-year era which left behind many fine examples of Moorish architecture. In the 16th century, it was S Spain's principal inland port and the centre for the country's exploration and exploitation of the New World. Today, it is a small city measuring approximately 10 mls N to S, with a population in the region of 700,000, and the once-great port is now home only to pleasure boats. The old walled city - in which most of historical interest is found - is little more than 1½ mls across as the crow flies - although it is much farther on foot as the narrow streets twist and turn, defeating even the strongest sense of direction. The majestic Giralda tower and cathedral are a natural gravitational point, with cafes dotted all around the square; these landmarks also mark the gateway to the picturesque Santa Cruz area with its tiny, cobbled streets and plethora of tapas bars, tourist shops and hotels. The entire old town has interesting streets, excellent shopping areas, parks, museums and wonderful architecture - all spruced up for the 1992 World Expo and wearing well. It is also home to Spain's oldest bullring, which took over a century to complete and is situated near the picturesque Guadalquivir River, while across the river, on the W bank, lies an amusement park built on the site of the 1992 Expo. Like many ancient cities faced with the problem of heavy modern traffic, Seville is a busy city with cars and buzzing mopeds everywhere. Pedestrians frequently have to paste themselves against crumbling walls as cars and taxis push their way through the narrowest streets, and mopeds are a law unto themselves.

Attracts a wide range of international travellers of all ages and types, particularly history buffs and culture seekers.

Wide selection of hotels and hostels catering for all pockets.

Branches of all major Spanish department stores as well as boutiques and speciality shops; a wide range of goods, including jewellery, furs, fashion, handicrafts, paintings, sculptures, objets d'art, ceramics, fabrics, foodstuffs and wine, leather goods and an excellent selection of flamenco music. Although not strictly Sevillian but readily available here is "jamon serrano", salt-cured mountain ham. Several Sunday morning markets including a stamp market in Plaza de Cabildo, a painters' market in Plaza del Museo and a flea market at Alameda de Hercules; jewellery and leather market on Wed and Thurs in Plaza de la Magdalena, Fri and Sat in Plaza del Duque.

Daytime: mainly tours or walks around the old city taking in sights like the picturesque Santa Cruz district; Alcazar Palace, with its Muslim, Gothic, Renaissance and baroque influences; the 15th-century cathedral and Giralda tower, constructed by the Moors in 1184; the sweeping semicircular Plaza de España; Torre del Oro (Tower of Gold); Maestranza Bullring. Also horse-drawn buggy rides around the historical centre; a wide range of museums including Archaeological Museum and Museum of Fine Arts; Jardines de Murillo and huge Maria Luisa Park, beautifully maintained semi-tropical parks; sightseeing boat trips on the river. It's well worth visiting during the April Fair, which takes place 2 weeks immediately following Easter, when Sevillanos devote themselves to dressing up, drinking dry sherry, eating olives, dancing, and attending bullfights and fiestas. Nightlife: huge variety of flamenco shows, lots of bars (a few Irish or American themed), some discos, a couple of theatres, cinemas (including at least one showing original-version films).

Mainly traditional Spanish fare, ranging from fish and shellfish from the nearby Atlantic to hearty meat stews like "rabo de toro" (oxtail stew). Fresh fruit and produce are excellent throughout the year. Selection of Chinese restaurants.

Buses and taxis. The high-speed train - the AVE - takes passengers from Madrid to Seville (or vice versa) in 2½ hrs.

Full day: Cordoba; Granada; Cadiz for the beach and fine seafood restaurants; Malaga and Costa del Sol; Jerez and its sherry bodegas; Doñana National Park; tour of the "white villages" - Chiclana, Medina Sidonia, Arcos de la Frontera, El Bosque, Ubrique (for locally made leather goods), Grazalema (Spain's rainiest village) and Zahara de la Sierra; Merida for some of Europe's best-preserved Roman ruins.

In the SW of the Iberian peninsula, 65 mls from the Atlantic at Cadiz. 100 mls E of the Portuguese border. 88 mls SW of Cordoba. 344 mls SW of Madrid. 8 mls SW of San Pablo airport.

Straddles both banks of the Guadalquivir River.

Post Code: 41000
Website: www.sevilla5.com

Airport : Sevilla
Airport Code: SVQ
Flight time from ther U.K.: 2 hrs. 30 mins