Visiting Seville was a last-minute decision for me on my very first solo trip. This spur of the moment decision was one of the best I made on this trip! Seville was, and still is, one of the most beautiful cities I have ever been to. Since I left, I have wanted to return! Here are 5 reasons why Seville is my favorite Spanish city.
Real Alcázar de Sevilla
Real Alcázar is an expansive, historic palace in Seville. To this day, it is still used as the royal residence when the Spanish king visits the city. Its impressive history, beautiful Moorish architecture, and close proximity to the Seville Cathedral make Real Alcázar a popular place to visit. Fun fact: The gardens within the palace were used to shoot Dorne in the popular HBO show Game of Thrones!
The Seville Cathedral
The famous Catedral de Sevilla is, to say the least, immaculate. The incredible piece of architecture is in the hub of the city and is the third-largest cathedral in the world. Important historical figures are buried within the cathedral, including Christopher Columbus.
The Giralda Bell Tower on the cathedral is an UNESCO world heritage site. It is one of the many pieces of Muslim architecture in the city incorporated into the Christian gothic styles after Seville was conquered in the 13th century. Tours are allowed in the cathedral, for a fee. During my short visit, I chose to take a guided tour of Real Alcázar instead and had to choose due to a strict budget. However, I desperately want to return to the city in the near future, and I plan to explore the inside of the cathedral!
Seville Architecture
Real Alcázar and the Seville Cathedral are both magnificent, but the rest of the city has incredible architecture scattered as well. Fountains, statues, and other churches pop up around the winding streets of Seville. Green parks flowering with orange trees are precariously placed among the maze of cobblestone. You will never get bored!
I highly encourage anyone who visits to get lost in the streets of Seville: an easy task. The roads in the city wind back and forth in a seemingly random maze circling the cathedral. I took my time to aimlessly walk around, and discovered dozens of incredible pieces of architecture in the city!
The Food
Seville takes the traditional Spanish tapas to the next level! With traditional foods such as chilled tomato soup, fresh seafood, and various cuts of stewed and smoked pork, your taste buds will love you! The tapas culture in Seville is huge, with over 3000 tapas bars and restaurants found in the small city. Rooftop restaurants are popular, with incredible views of the Seville Cathedral.
The Relaxed, Southern Spain Vibe
The vibe around Seville was unlike what I experienced in Barcelona and Madrid. The city seemed to move at a much slower pace, not unlike the river lazily winding its way through the city. This laid-back vibe is one of the many reasons Seville is my favorite Spanish city. The weather is beautiful, especially in the winter. The city experiences warm weather throughout the entire year and rarely has much rainfall. Locals and tourists alike lazily stroll the streets, chatting in Spanish and snacking on local foods. I felt immediately at home!
Seville is one of my favorite cities in the world and is definitely my favorite city in all of Spain. The small city is often overlooked, but it shouldn’t be! You will not regret catching a quick train or flight to visit this incredible city.
What’s your favorite Spanish city?
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The architecture in Seville looks amazing! It will definitely be a city that I visit when I make it to Spain. The food sounds amazing! It doesn’t help that I’m hungry at the moment.
I’m glad you decided to add it to your list! It’s definitely been one of my favorites