| Barrio de Santa Cruz
 The
Barrio is the old historic Jewish quarter of the city around the
Cathedral, and is a veritable labyrinth of narrow cobblestone
streets. Travelers can explore old palaces, the house of the Barber
of Seville, or the statue of Don Juan. Seville's ancient streets
bear the imprint of the multitude of peoples and cultures that
have called this city home: Romans, Visigoths, Muslims, Jews and
Christian.
Cathedral
 The
Cathedral is an exceptional testimony to the civilization of the
Almohadesas well as the Christians of Andalusia, dating from the
re-conquest of 1248 to the 16th century. The Giralda minaret,
masterpiece of Almohad architecture, next to the cathedral with
five naves, is the largest Gothic edifice in Europe, and contains
the tomb of Christopher Columbus.
Alcazar
 Just
as beautiful as the Alhambra in Granada, the alcazar is a wonderful
place to spend an afternoon wondering through the cool courtyards
and marvel at the Moorish architecture. The gardens are a virtual
paradise, and many of the trees and plants are those brought back
by Columbus and later explorers from the New World.
La Macarena
 This
area is located in the northwest part of the old quarter where
a church and neighborhood are named after the city's virgin La
Macarena. The attractions here are the old convents and churches
tucked away in the small alleyways and winding maize like streets.
Parque de Maria Luisa
 This
is a beautiful park full of vegetation, small ponds with ducks
and swans, benches, sculptures, and winding pathways shaded under
a huge canopy of trees. This is an excellent place to go for a
nice afternoon stroll or to cool off in the midday heat during
the summer. In addition to the park the Plaza de Espana is also
an impressive sight worth seeing. Originally built for the Ibero-American
world fare, this plaza is beautifully constructed in a semicircle.
Not only is the architecture impressive but also each major historical
event and city in the History of Spain is represented in beautiful
painted mosaic tile. Cities such as Salamanca to Zarragoza and
the expulsion of the moors are all represented here.
Museums
Museo
Provincial de Bellas Artes
This museum is probably the
best in Seville and for good reason. On display are works by several
masters but most notably Murillo, Valdes, Leal, Zurbaran, and
El Greco.
Museo de Arte Contemporaneo
This museum, as its name indicates,
is home to many works by contemporary 20th century painters. The
most well known painter is the great Joan Miro. |
