18 Essentials: what to see and do in Seville in 2, 3 or 4 days

The song that you have probably heard many times says that Sevilla it has a special color, which you can only verify in one tourism visit of the Andalusian capital.

La city offers many and diverse attractions, starting from its historical monuments, with iconic buildings such as the Giralda, Gothic cathedral or Real Alcazar, which place the city on the list of World Heritage.

Specially in Sevilla you can see numerous charming corners that you find on your walk through the city, or you can also enjoy the great atmosphere that exists there.

Without a doubt it is one of the most interesting cities in Spain.

And not because we say so, the data on international interest in this destination increases every year.

With this article we intend to show you all the notable places that can be visited.

If you are going to take a trip to Seville, you are in the right place.

What to see in Seville

In order to plan your own trip, I will highlight below 18 places of interest it would essential to see in a tourism trip to Seville.

Triumph Square 

From the monumental point of view, it can be considered that the heart of the city is the Triumph Square, because there are three of the places that put the city on the list of World Heritage for the Unesco.

 

It is its Gothic cathedral, the bell tower best known as The Giralda, as well as the Real Alcazar, fourth place being Archivo de Indias.

La Triumph Square It is also the place where you can start your essential walk through the Barrio de Santa Cruz.

This square is dedicated to the Virgin Mary, of which you can see a small monument from the 16th century.

There is also another larger monument from the beginning of the 20th century dedicated to the Immaculate Conception.

His figure is surrounded by four sculptures of characters faithful to said virgenas Murillo, who painted her in many of his works.

Giralda of Seville

If there is an iconic image in the city of Seville, it is that of its Giralda.

This bell tower located next to the Gothic cathedral It dates back to Muslim times, when construction began in 1184.

The current tower consists of three bodies, above the initial one minaret tower of the great Almohad mosque of Seville, in the 16th century, a second body known as that of the lilies.

Subsequently the Giralda It was completed with a third body in Renaissance style.

At the top of the Giralda It is not climbed by stairs but by wide ramps, as this was enabled so that the sultan could ride a horse to see the panoramic views of the city.

Gothic cathedral of Seville

Due to its dimensions, the great monument that you will see in this enclave of the Triumph Square is cathedral of Santa María de la Sede.

Did you know that Seville is the largest gothic cathedral in the world and the third largest Christian temple.

Indeed, it is a building that began to be built at the end of the 500th century, which took about XNUMX years, so the current Cathedral of Sevilla shows various architectural styles.

The cathedral is built on the site occupied by the aforementioned Great Mosque of Seville, an Almohad building that served as a Christian cathedral until it was finally demolished to build the current Gothic building.

It is a very interesting construction from a historical point of view, that is why we recommend that, as with the Alcázar and the Giralda, you visit the cathedral with a guide Let me explain all the peculiarities well.

Royal Alcazar of Seville

El Real Alcazar It is the complex of buildings that has historically represented power in the city.

Its beginnings date back to Muslim times, so it was the palace and residence of emirs and then, after the reconquest of the city in 1248, of Christian kings.

This palace complex that expanded over time shows various architectural styles, from the Mudejar and Gothic, to the Baroque and Renaissance.

I tell you that he Real Alcazar It will be one of the most interesting visits you can make in Seville.

And not only for the great artistic wealth of the buildings, but also for the walk you will take through its beautiful gardens populated with orange trees and palm trees, and with their pavilions and fountains.

Keep in mind that it is essential make a online reservation of tickets to visit the Real Alcázar of Seville in advance of your trip, and you can also sign up for a guided tour of the Real Alcázar.

• What to see in the Real Alcázar of Seville

Barrio de Santa Cruz 

If there is a charming place in the city that is it. Barrio de Santa Cruz.

As I have already mentioned before, there are numerous corners where you can enjoy this network of narrow streets and small squares where the flowery facades of the white houses have great prominence.

This is the old Jewish quarter, although the location dates back to Roman times.

The Jews settled in said neighborhood after the reconquest of Seville in 1248 by the king Ferdinand III.

La square of Santa Marta, Flag Court, water street or the Santa Cruz Square They are some of the most notable corners of this popular neighborhood.

• What to see in the Santa Cruz neighborhood

Flag Court 

If there is a place to highlight in the Barrio de Santa Cruz that is what is known as Flag Court.

This urban space located next to the Real Alcazar as we see it now it is from the beginning of the 20th century.

But Flag Court is closely linked to Real Alcazar , and an example is that the square is the exit from the visit of the palace complex through the old Governor's Palace.

This place became an armory in 1729, but after the Iberoamerican Exhibition In 1919 the area was remodeled and now we can see this large square from where you have a typical image of the Giralda.

Holy Cross Square

Among the numerous small squares in the popular Sevillian neighborhood, the one known as Holy Cross Square.

It occupies the space of the Holy Cross Church, which you can now see elsewhere in the neighborhood, and in the center of the square there is a large iron cross.

Known as the Locksmith Cross, it is a monument from 1692, which was installed in the central Sierpes street up to 1921.

Pilate's House

En Sevilla you can visit a good sample of what is considered a prototype of a andalusian palace.

Started to build in 1483, the Pilate's House It presents an architectural combination of Mudejar and Italian Renaissance.

This last contribution comes from the noble Fadrique Enriquez who in 1518 traveled as a pilgrim to Jerusalem, and during his time in Italy he was impressed by Renaissance art.

He applied this style in the extensions he made to the palace.

La Pilate's House belongs to the Dukes of Medinaceli since the 17th century.

La visit of the House of Pilate It is made with guided tours which last about 20 minutes, and in it the large room with ceilings painted by Pacheco and Tea Room: Ladies Room.

Divine Savior Church

If there is a church that stands out in Sevilla, beyond the cathedral, that is the Divine Savior.

It is the largest church in the city, after the aforementioned cathedral, which was built on the remains of the old Great Mosque of Seville, from the 9th century.

The building that you can see today was actually built from 1674, since the original parish was already very deteriorated.

It is a baroque style building that is considered the second church in the city.

San Telmo Palace in Seville

A building that you should not miss on your walk through the center of Seville is the San Telmo Palace, current headquarters of the presidency for the Junta de Andalucía, and whose façade is the best exponent of the baroque in the Andalusian capital.

Built from 1692 to be the headquarters of a college-seminary of the Merchants University, throughout history it has had various uses.

For most of the 20th century it has belonged to the Archbishopric of SevilleHere it was the headquarters of a seminary, until 1989 when the building was transferred to the Junta de Andalucía.

Maria Luisa Park

If there is a famous green space in Seville, that is it. Maria Luisa park, which was occupied by the private gardens of the aforementioned San Telmo Palace.

It was in 1893 when they were transferred to the city, and romantic style gardens were designed with inspiration from the gardens of the Alhambra of Granada and Alcazar of Seville.

Due to the Iberoamerican Exhibition In 1929, the squares of Spain and America.

The first, with its fountains and canals and its benches covered in tiles, has become one of the iconic corners of the city of Seville.

Gold Tower in Seville

Together with the Giralda, tower of Gold It is another place whose image has become an icon of the city.

With a current height of 36 meters, it is a defensive tower built in the time of the Almohads, in 1220, which was part of the city wall.

Located on the north bank of the Guadalquivir river, the tower consists of three bodies, the second being built during the 1760th century, and the upper one, cylindrical in shape, in XNUMX.

Murillo Gardens 

One of the most beautiful places to walk in Seville are the Murillo Gardens, space that in its time was occupied by the orchards of the Real Alcázar.

It was in 1911 when the gardens were designed, which have several octagonal gazebos where the flower beds, central fountains and benches covered in tiles stand out.

Hotel Alfonso XIII 

Every city has a historic hotel, and that function is undoubtedly fulfilled by the Hotel Alfonso XIII.

Inaugurated in 1929, it is a neo-Mudejar style building with Andalusian notes, and its initial purpose was to be the official hotel for the Iberoamerican Exhibition.

Currently it is one of the most luxurious and charismatic hotels in Spain.

Duenas Palace 

Recently opened to public visits, see the interior of the Duenas Palace It is one of the attractions that is generating the most interest among Sevillians and visitors to the city.

property of the Dukes of Alba Since 1612, this majestic palace dates back to the XNUMXth century, and as a curiosity, he was born and spent his childhood there. Antonio Machado At the time when the palace was a tenement house.

Currently it is still the residence of the Alba family, and during your visit you will be able to see numerous rooms and a large collection of artistic works and objects of great value.

• Here you can buy tickets to visit the Dueñas Palace, so you avoid possible queues and have an audio guide.
• What to see in the Dueñas Palace

City of Seville

On your walk through the city of Seville you should not miss seeing the town hall building, which stands out for its plateresque facade.

It is a building that was built in the 15th century, and this façade is oriented towards the San Francisco square.

You will see that it is not finished, although it is the extension that was undertaken in the 19th century, in which the Plateresque decoration could not be completed.

The main facade of the City of Seville It is the opposite, the one oriented towards new Square, and was completed in 1867.

Museum of Fine Arts 

When it comes to museums, you should know that in the andalusian capital is what is considered the second art gallery in Spain, the Museum of Fine Arts.

Located in the museum square, is the essential place to learn about Sevillian baroque painting, with works by artists such as Zurbaran, Murillo y Valdes Leal.

In this building that was initially built to house a convent, you will also be able to see works of Velázquez.

Maestranza Bullring 

Finally, if you are a fan of bullfighting, in Seville you have an essential visit, the Maestranza Bullring.

Built in 1762, it is one of the most important bullrings in the world.

You can sign up for guided tours inside, where, in addition to seeing the arena, you can visit the museum and various corners of the square such as the horse yard or the chapel.

Tickets to monuments and guided tours in Seville

It is important to take into account when buy tickets to the monuments, what must book them in advance, especially in large monuments.

It is not strictly necessary to purchase them beforehand, but we do recommend it if you want. avoid huge waiting lines, especially in high season and weekends, when the city is filled with visitors.

Keep in mind that Seville is among the 5 most touristic cities in Spain.

It can be a nightmare to wait 2 hours to buy tickets in June in the sun, with the tremendous heat in the city.

That's why the trick to avoid endless waiting lines is sign up for a guided tour, that by already having previously purchased tickets, you have preferential access to the monuments.

These guided tours usually include several monuments, so you can plan the route you want through excursions

And another important thing, do not wait until the last minute to book them online, since they usually end on weekends or in high season.

Excursions to Córdoba and Granada from Seville

Andalusia is undoubtedly one of the most interesting regions in Spain, since its territory contains some of the most beautiful cities in the country.

If we had to recommend a route through the best of Andalusia, we would certainly include Cordova, Grenada y Sevilla, three cities with an enormous Arab influence, which are also located within a very short distance.

That is why it is very common for visitors to Seville to take one or several day excursions to Granada to see the Alhambra, el Albaicín or Sacromonte neighborhood, or a visit to Cordova with his famous Mosque.

Train connections help make trips very, very short; from Seville to Córdoba by train takes only half an hour, when by bus the journey takes 2 hours.

This makes it possible to visit the Alhambra from Granada on a day trip, leaving in the morning and returning in the afternoon.

But it's not just the big cities, you can visit the Doñana National Park which is one of the largest natural reserves in Europe and home of hundreds of species of birds on their migrations from Africa to the north of the European continent.

And if you want to visit the pure essence of Andalusia, sign up for the Route of the white towns, another of the best routes in Andalusia. It is a route by car but there are excursions that take you closer to these towns with white facades in the mountains.