In December of 2010 I took my grouchy husband on a trip to Seville, Spain, to visit my cousin and take a break from the icy Swiss winter.
My cousin had opted for a semester in Spain and was lucky enough to get a spot at a Sevillian university.
Despite our uncountable trips to the South of France (I am not exaggerating by the way), I had only been to Spain three times: once to the beautiful island of Lanzarote, once to Barcelona and once to Benalmádena, which is a town in Málaga.
I didn’t want to miss the chance of spending a weekend in the sun with a great guide who knew what she was talking about when showing us the city.
We had an amazing time in Seville and this short trip holds a very fond place in my heart.
We were charmed by the Sevillians, loved the climate and integrated fairly easy into the delightful and easy going nature of the Spanish.
I wanted to let you experience this wonderful city by sharing an interview with my cousin on the most beautiful and must-see places and sights in Seville.
1. What is your favorite place in Seville?
The Plaza de España is an incredible place with breathtaking architecture and a beautiful park. This was the place I went to the most and really loved it.
2. What is a must-see place or must-do activity that every visitor has to experience?
It is hard to only name one. Like I just said, the Plaza de España is definitely a place one must not miss. It was built in 1928 and designed by Aníbal González. The Plaza is a complex of buildings circled around a large fountain. Its tilted alcoves are just beautiful and the mix of 1920s Art Deco and ‘mock Mudejar’, and Neo-Mudéjar styles is unique and interesting for the eye.
Also the Seville Cathedral with the Giralda has to be on top of your list when you want the best Seville experience. The Seville Cathedral is the largest Gothic church in the world and is the burial site of Christopher Columbus. The Giralda is a former minaret that was converted to a bell tower for the Cathedral and can be climbed, which gives you a great view of the city.
The shopping streets Tetúan and Sierpes and Los Jardines, the beautiful gardens are also worth your time.
3. What kind of food does a visitor have to try?
Tapas! I can totally recommend finding a place in the sun, looking at the huge variety of these delicious appetizers and savoring each bite. They are incredibly good and there is something for everyone, no matter your taste.
4. Is there a restaurant you can absolutely recommend?
The Levies Café-Bar is one of the best Tapas bars in the city and the food tastes heavenly there. It is a bit hard to find as a tourist. It is located in the Calle Levies, but if you ask around, you will find it.
5. Are there things about Sevilla one should avoid? Things that weren’t so great or you didn’t like?
The city is overall one of the most beautiful cities I have ever seen. Of course, there are also parts that aren’t too nice, but I don’t remember any place that I didn’t like. If you keep to the inner city, you can’t do anything wrong.
6. What did you like about the Sevillian culture?
In genreal, the people are much more cheerful and open in Seville. They sing in the streets, meet up for a café can leche and enjoy the beautiful weather.
At nights, they sit outside of the cafes, drink some wine and let the evening fade away. You can draw from this incredible attitude of life and you are swept by the cheerful and balanced nature of the Spanish.
Another thing that is worth mentioning is the large amounts of food that is being prepared in the families on the weekends. It’s rare that you see so much delicious food and so many courses, especially with the fresh fruit.
7. How would a perfect sightseeing day look like?
A perfect day would start by having breakfast in a cafe or a tostada. You would then stroll through the shopping streets, because shopping for clothes is something you can do here incredibly well.
After that, you’d have time for all the above mentioned sights, which are mostly in walking distance. I would highly recommend taking some time to have lunch at a tapas bar and simply relaxing in the sun.
Or you could spend the afternoon and early evening sitting on a park bench on the Plaza de España watching the world go by. At night, you have to try one of the many busy restaurants and eat some of the Sevillian specialities like Flamenco Eggs, Sauté Kidneys with Sherry, Stuffed Artichokes or Fried-Fish.
You shouldn’t miss the lively bars or discos that you can find all over town and celebrate your trip with a few Sevillians. On the weekend you could also take a quick trip to the ocean and enjoy the beautiful scenery.
