√ Sevilla (Spain): information on the city, what to visit and what to do Sevilla?

Sevilla

Coat of arms of the city Sevilla (Spain)

Population: ~ 684.000

Time difference to London - Time zone GMT/UTC: 1 hour (+/- changes due summertime/daylight saving)

Climate, weather: 13ºC - 17ºC (57ºF - 65ºF) from November to March, 24ºC - 26ºC (75ºF - 85ºF) in April and October, and 32ºC - 36ºC (87ºF - 97ºF) from May to September cool and rain during the winter and hot in the summer with perfect spring and fall weather.

► Basic information on Spain

Seville (in Spanish Sevilla), is considered to be one of the most beautiful cities in Spain.

Sevilla is a place that will give a passion, a spirit, a soul, to your learning of Spanish.

How do you describe Sevilla?

It was said that Sevilla doesn’t have ambience, Sevilla is the definition of ambiance!

The flamenco, the afternoons watching the people go by, the late nights of singing and dancing, and one more thing, Feria.

Sevilla (Spain) - Things to See:

The Cathedral and Giralda

The Alcazar Castle and gardens

Maria Luisa Park

The Torre del Oro (Tower of Gold)

Barrio Santa Cruz and the old Jewish quarter

Plaza de Toros de la Real Maestranza (Bullring)

Sevilla (Spain) - Local Fiestas and Festivals:

Semana Santa - Holy Week (Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday)

Feria de Abril - April Fair (Mid April, usually two weeks after Semana Santa)

Seville, Capital of Andalusia

Located in the south-west of Spain, Seville is the capital of Andalusia and certainly, one of the most beloved places by visitors to Spain.

The roots of bullfighting flamenco music and tapas all collide in Seville making it famous for Spanish culture.

There is always a wide range of cultural variety to cater throughout the year.

The beautiful Gothic and Arab architecture, the Andalusian cuisine and the lovely climate makes Seville the ideal place to learn Spanish.

Feria of Sevilla - The anual fair

Imagine a large site (the size of 54 football fields) in the middle of the city. There over 1,000 tents (casetas) are erected for a period of just one week.

During the day, 3,000 horsemen and women ride on the streets. At all times (from 1 pm to 8 am!), over 500,000 people come to the casetas to dance, eat, drink and have fun.

This unique, colorful experience takes place once a year in springtime, the best time to visit Sevilla.

Highlights

Seville offers a wide range of cultural variety to cater for all tastes throughout the year: Flamenco, bullfighting, Semana Santa (Holy Week), The April Fair and the lively atmosphere in the streets due to the open and friendly nature of its people.

The river Guadalquivir, Maria Luisa Park, the Cathedral, The Golden Tower and the Plaza de España are all places of enchantment where you can feel the spirit of a city which is eternally romantic.

El Salvador Square

It is the most important meeting point of the city. It is located in front of the amazing Church of El Salvador (that has a baroque style and was built on the Mosque of Ibn’Adabbas plot) where you could find an arcade, supported by columns. Here you will be able to see three small wine cellars that spread all the Andalusia charm. If you want to go out to drink something at midday, you will meet many people in this square from 1:30 p.m. on. In the spring and in the summer this square is covered by giant awnings that permit us to enjoy the shade.

If you prefer to go out at night, from 20:00 p.m. you will find taverns with tables in the street. Their speciality is small portions of smoked fish and cheeses.

La Alicantina, a very famous bar specialized in bear, is also located in that square. Here you could taste their famous prawn salad, watching at the same time how other people take a walk.

Hércules Avenue

It is the most alternative and younger area. It is a very large avenue that links the central part of the city (Plaza de El Duque de la Victoria) with other ones that are more modern (La Cartuja, Expo 92). Along the Avenue you could find cafés, bars and restaurants with different styles and atmospheres. Another important place that we should not forget is La Madrasa, a popular tavern where you can eat and find a great menu of tapas and courses, that brigs us to a world of tastes that are going to be unforgettable. If you want to enjoy a relaxed lunch in La Madrasa, you will have to be faster than the Spanish people because it is one of the most demanded places in this area. The relationship between quality and price is excellent. La Madrasa is located in Peris Mencheta street.

HÉRCULES AVENUE (2)

Tradition and breaking converge in this space where we can find the most popular districts of Seville. This avenue is located in the north and older part of town. It is one of the most suggestive alternative places. It is known by its diversity, avant-garde and urban reality. It is a city inside a city. We can find different business, tapas bars, restaurants, where we can taste typical dishes, cosy cafés to savour exotic infusions in the afternoon, or pubs in which we can be witnesses of the “underground” culture. We must not forget that there is also a disco and an auditorium for music concerts in which we could enjoy international independent music. It is very difficult to be bored here.

Moreover, the Avenue is a place where the most popular parties of the city take place, and this is something that contrasts with other events that are characterized by its recreational and artistic value, such as the Holy Week, the Carnival, Saint John’s Night or the procession of the Three Wise Men. In the same way we will also be important witnesses of different festivals, gestures of solidarity, performances, theatre plays in the open air, concerts and many other manifestations that show us that creativity and art are an essential part of the spirit of that area of Seville, in which you become absorbed at that same moment because Hercules Avenue is a place where anybody that wants to enjoy life will be welcome.

Cristo de Burgos Square

It is also known as San Pedro Square. It is one of the most centric and relaxing places of the city. Here you could find a tapas bar (that has at our disposal a room where you can eat) called Los Coloniales. This bar, which was inaugurated two years ago, offers us exquisite Andalusian tapas and home-made desserts. If you want to eat comfortably you must arrive there very early or you must make a reservation beforehand. Those tables that are located in the terrace are in great demand, specially at night.

The Alfalfa Square

It is located between El Salvador and Cristo de Burgos Squares. There you could find different bars which offer you a great variety of popular tapas of the Andalusian cooking, such as cod or hake, spinaches with chickpeas, fried fish and, at the beginning of the summer, shells and snails.

In that same square you can go to the Alfalfa Café, which has different home-made cakes. Here you will have to have a second helping of everything you try.

Santa Cruz

This is the historic centre of the city. It is located among narrow streets and hidden squares that bring people few centuries back.

Inside it you will be able to find the most representative monuments of the city: the Cathedral, the Giralda, the Alcázar of the Christian King and Queen, as well as the most known squares: Santa Cruz, Doña Elvira, El Triunfo and La Alianza, which are perfect places to go up for a walk early in the morning.

In Mateos Gago street, near the Giralda, it is located the Bodega Santa Cruz where you must make a stop because of its spectacular and traditional Andalusian cooking, as well as the courtesy and kindness of their waiters, without forgetting their cheap prices.

It is a perfect place to have breakfast contemplating the Giralda at the same time

The Giralda

The Giralda represents the perfect communion between two cultures: the muslims and the christians, who lived together in harmony in the past, and still do. Built by the Muslims in the XII Century, this almohade tower was afterwards modifeid by the chistians who added the Bells and the "Giraldillo".

The Legend and tradition says that it was required to go up by horse, (there are no stairs but a slide) and only the best jockyes and horses could achieve this goal.

The view from the top of The Giralda in one of the most beautiful considering that no other building in Sevilla is higher due to a city law which won't allow any other figher building.

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How and what they are speaking/talking about in Sevilla? Radio and TV stations from Sevilla in Spanish live & online:

Canal SUR

TV station

Sevilla

Type and programme style: comprehensive, news, sport, local information

Checked on Sunday, 1st of November 2009, quality of streaming: ok, player type: Flash.

► Watch live Canal SUR

To propose another radio/tv more, simply contact us:

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► Information on Spain