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Welcome to the city of Flamenco, Don Juan, Carmen, Holy Week, the April Fair, and bullfights! Seville is situated in the Southeast of Spain. A provincial capital, it is the seat of the government and parliament of the Comunidad Autónoma de Andalucía (regional government). It has more than 700,000 inhabitants; nearly half the population of the whole province.
The city of Seville is located on the plain of the Guadalquivir River which crosses the city from north to south. The river can be navigated from Seville all the way to its outlet near Sanlúcar de Barrameda on the Atlantic coast. In the past the port of Seville played an important role in commerce between Spain and the Americas and today remains one of the most active river ports in the Iberian peninsula.
The long Moorish occupation left indelible traces in Seville, as well as in all of Al-Andalus. Seville has the largest old quarter in Europe. Virtually all people of the Mediterranean have left their mark here: at Italica, with the Giralda, the Torre del Oro, the Alcázar, the Cathedral, etc.! But without a doubt, Seville’s finest asset is its people. As warm and lively as anywhere in Spain, Andalucians are always ready to help visitors, delighted to share their cheerfulness and local traditions. You can´t miss trying the famous tapas!
During Semana Santa (March - April) there is vast movement of people throughout the region. The 'Cofradías' (fraternities) and thousands of Sevillians flow through the streets of the city in penitence. Being a religious festival, public catechism is performed in the streets around the sacred images of the brotherhoods whose 'pasos' (floats) represent the distinct stages of the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. 'La Feria de abril' as indicated takes place in April. Just after Semana Santa, the Sevillians start preparing this fair. There are thousands of individual 'casetas' (tents) competing to obtain a prize for the nicest tent. They are adorned with lanterns, paper flowers, light bulbs, photographs, bars, paintings, mirrors, lamps, and other decorations.
Don´t miss the tapas! The city is credited with the invention of the snack-sized delicacies and has more than a thousand bars where the food choices are almost unlimited. Choose seafood, ham and sausage, vegetables, cheese and more. Sevillians actually make a meal of them, moving from bar to bar and trying one dish at a time.
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Welcome to Sevilla
