Sevilla Things to Do Tips by Beach_dog

The Museum of Arts and Customs Popular Museo de Artes y Costumbres Populares Review

Housed within the Mudejar style pavillion at Plaza de America. The museum records the social and artistic life of Sevilla, displayed with scenes, including costumes, daily objects, jewels and art from everyday life. The building itself was built for the Ibero-American Exposition of 1929, and itself has to be one of the many wonders of Sevilla. Built in a Neo-Mudéjar style.

Address: Plaza de America 3

Directions: Parque de Maria Luisa

Plaza de España Plaza de España Review

The Plaza de Espana was built in 1929 for the 'Fair of the Americas'. a vast semicircular complex of buildings with lakes, fountains and monumental staircases all finished with inctricate hand painted tiles. Each bay if fiited with a tiled seat, each representing the provinces of Spain, and showing a scene from the provinces history.

The semi-circular construction is 200 meters in diameter and flanked at each end by two spectacular towers.

While I visited renovation of some sections were taking place, replacing some of the tiles damaged by weather and people over the decades. It was nice to see that this very impressive edifice is being kept alive.

Another fact... it was used in a scene of Episode two of the Stars Wars movies.

Address: Parque de María Luisa

Directions: East bank of the Guadalquivir, south of the Cathedral

Tabacco Factory Fábrica Real de Tabaccos Review

Famed for it's role in Prosper Merimée's Opera, 'Carmen'. Carmen was a worker in the Tabacco factory. It's not like any factory you would see these days, it's exterior is ornately decorated with sculptures. Since 1921 it has been used as part of the University of Sevilla.

Address: c/ San Fernando

Phone: 95 455 10 00

Reales Alcazares Alcazar Review

At first appearance it appears to be a Moorish Palace, but was actually built for 'King Pedro the Cruel of Castille' and his mistress 'Maria de Padilla' 1360's. Many of the artisans that built the Alcazar were Moors from Granada hence its Arabic designs.

Address: Plaza del Triunfo

Phone: 95 450 23 23

Cathedral 2 Cathedral Review

Construction of the cathedral started in 1401 on the remains of a 12th century mosque, it was completed 100 years later, but additions to it were made in the 16th, 17th and 19th Centuries. As a result, whilst being gothis, it has many baroque, neoclassical and renaissance features.

Address: Avenida de la Constitución

Phone: 95 421 49 71

Cathedral Cathedral Review

This has to be the most impressive cathedral I've seen, the worlds largest gothic cathedral and the third largest cathedral in the world.

Originally built into the site of a Mosque, after 150 years construction of the present building started in the year 1401.

The cathedral is 126 meters long and 83 meters wide and 37 meters high, not including the adjacent Giralda tower.

Address: Avenida de la Constitución

Phone: 95 421 49 71

Archivo de Indias Archivo de Indias Review

The archives hold all the records of the time when Spain was involved with it's South American Empire. The UNESCO Comittee named the Cathedral, the Alcazar and the Archivo de Indias as world heritages because of their testimony to the civilization of Christian Andalusia.

It has held records since 1785 and has documents dating back to 1492.

While I was there the Archives were closed for renovations and not open to the public.

Address: Avenide de la Constitucion 3

Directions: Outside the cathedral.

Phone: 0034 954 21 12 34

Palace of the Archbishop Plaza Virgen de los Reyes Review

Near to the Giralda and Cathedral, heading to Santa Cruz neighbourhood you see the red and yellow ochre facade of the Palacio de Arzobispado (Archbishop). Its 18th century facade are typical of the Sevillian Baroque style.

Address: Plaza Virgen de los Reyes.

Directions: Near the cathedral.

Moorish Palace of Reales Alcazares Alcazar Review

Address: Plaza del Triunfo

Phone: 95 450 23 23