Sights in Seville, Spain

Discover the best attractions of the city

There is an amazing list of sights in Seville, Spain's most beautiful city according to most. It has an incredible appeal to both foreigners and Spaniards because of its light, the way Sevillanos enjoy themselves and its gorgeous architecture. Seville is one of the most romantic cities in Europe with a mixture of Roman reminiscences and Moorish traditions. So, without a doubt, you'll be pretty soon delighted by its charm and passion.

Seville is full of exuberance and history. It has gone through wars, invasions and has been home of many kings. As a result, the city is colorful, vivid and it is home of many Spanish symbols and marvelous monuments that you have surely seen before. If not, keep reading as this is what this guide is for!

Moreover, Seville has other very interesting places that you must visit while you are here. Less known than the ones you are about to read, they prove that Seville is a city of contrasts and that, sometimes, the best masterpieces are not found in museums.

Finally, there are also some hidden gems that, fortunately, are still not included in the touristic circuits. And trust me, you are going to see loads of tourists in some places... especially the taking-pictures-of-everything type you want to avoid! These are places independent travelers sometimes just never heard about them or skip because they don't have enough time. Don't be one of them!

This is an overview of the most visited and well known monuments of Seville. If you want to find out more about them (and some practical information as well) just follow the links...

Seville is full of little big secrets waiting for you :-)

Seville most famous monuments

The Cathedral of Seville

The Seville Cathedral is the biggest Gothic cathedral in the world and also the 3rd biggest one in terms of size, after Saint Peter (the Vatican) and Saint Paul (London, UK). Its construction started in 1401, after the Christians reconquered Seville, and it ended in 1506.

The aim was to convey an image of confidence and wealth after seven centuries of Arab occupation and it certainly does!

The Giralda Tower

One of the highlights of Seville is the Giralda tower.

Probably the most visited monument of the city along with the cathedral, you should definitely not miss it.

The Giralda is one of the three remaining Almohad minarets in the world to become later on the bell tower of one of the largest churches in the world.

The Royal Alcazar

Known as The Royal Alcazar, Seville's royal palace was originally a Moorish fort, built in the 10th century by the first Caliph of Andalucia. The construction of the current palace-fortress began in the 14th century.

Islamic, Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque elements can be found, but my favorite one is the Mudejar Palace, the best example of this architectural style in Spain. The gardens are perfect to walk around and enjoy the spring like weather of the city.

The Torre del Oro

The Torre del Oro was built in the 13th century (1220-1221) during the reign of the Taifa Kings in Seville. The Moors were ruling Spain at the time.

Being part of the city's walls, its purpose was to protect Seville from the river side and to control the entrance of the harbor.

The Hospital de los Venerables

The Hospital de los Venerables, located in the Barrio de Santa Cruz had the purpose to shelter and take care of the poor, sick and handicapped priests.

This two-storey building is a classic example of the 17th century Baroque style and it is used now by a Foundation to hold temporary exhibitions.

Apart from the building and its beautiful patio, the Hospital de los Venerables has one of the most astonishing churches of Seville with impressive masterpieces and the walls and ceilings fully painted with amazing frescoes.

The Plaza de España

The exuberant and magnificent Plaza de Espana is located in the Maria Luisa Park and was built on the occasion of the Ibero-American Exposition World's Fair that took place in Seville in 1929.

This huge square, that needed as much as 1,000 people working simultaneously to build it, represents the embrace of Spain and its ancient colonies and it is orientated facing the Guadalquivir River as a path to America.

Don't miss the series of 48 tiled alcoves or benches, each representing a Spanish province, and pick your favorite one!

The Museums of Seville

A wide range of subjects, from paintings to archeological pieces and even our famous flamenco are covered in the museums of Seville. Spain is a very rich country with a wide culture and the Seville museums are a good place to know more about it. Allow some time in your schedule to visit them.

• The Museo de Bellas Artes is one of the most important art museums in Spain. The works of Spanish painters such as El Greco, Velazquez, Murillo or Zurbaran are displayed here. The museum also includes ceramics, sculptures and pottery, ranging from medieval to the 20th century.

• The Museo Arqueologico is full of mosaics, ruins and sculptures mainly from the Roman and Arab occupations. This is a great chance to know the Andalusian culture at a glance.

• The Museo de Artes y Costumbres displays a collection of traditional clothing and decorative arts representing the culture of Andalucia and the everyday life. Don't miss the ceramics collection on the ground floor.
• The Museo del Baile Flamenco is the main reference of the Andalusian cultural heritage in Seville, Spain's birthplace of the flamenco dance. It will make you understand and feel the union between culture and flamenco art.

• The Contemporary Art Centre has a permanent collection focused in particular on the history of contemporary Andalusian art, including pieces of Perez Villalta and Rodriguez de Luna. And it also holds temporary exhibitions of less known artists. I particularly like the sight itself, an old monastery that later on became a ceramic factory and is now a museum.

You may want to discover some of Seville's hidden gems...

... Or maybe read more about less known sights?

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