Seville and the Alcazar
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Port
Seville, Spain
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Activity Level
Strenuous Activity
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Excursion Type
All
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Wheelchair Accessible
No
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Starting At (prices in USD)
$100
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Minimum Age
Information Not Currently Available
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Duration
Approximately 3 Hours
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Meals Included
Meals not included
UNESCO World Heritage Site
The Cathedral, Alcázar and Archivo de Indias in Seville was inscribed in 1987. The cathedral, the largest Gothic building in Europe, and the Alcázar, dating from the Reconquest but with strong Moorish influences, testify to the civilization of the Almohads and of Christian Andalusia. The Giralda minaret is an Almohad masterpiece. The Archivo de Indias, contains documents from Spain’s American colonies.
Begin with a panoramic drive through the city of Seville, passing beautiful Colón Avenue with its typical Sevillian houses, the neo-Classical Maestranza Bullring (the largest in Spain), and the Golden Tower—a remnant of Seville's Moorish fortifications. Watch for the avenue of palm trees where most of the beautiful buildings from the Ibero-American Exhibition of 1929 are located. Maria Luisa Park is sure to impress with its unique Plaza de España, decorated with ornamental tiles representing a historic moment from each Spanish province. You will visit the Santa Caridad Hospital—now a museum. This former hospital, which dates back to the 17th-century, was most likely built by the man who inspired the infamous womanizing character of Don Juan (his real name was Miguel Mañara). Historians have suggested that the hospital was some kind of atonement for Mañara’s loose lifestyle. A nun will guide you through the courtyard—it is painted in bright earth tones—and don’t miss the masterpieces by 17th-century Spanish painters Murillo and Valdes-Leal in the Baroque chapel. Next you will stop at the Alcazar—the palace of caliphs and kings for almost 700 years. Explore this amazing Moorish fantasy in filigree that was built in the mid 1300s. The Alcazar’s floors, ceilings and walls are intricate works of art, and the Patio de las Doncellas is noted for its friezes, tiles and stuccowork. Well-manicured gardens, filled with the scent of orange blossoms and roses, contribute to the overall sense of peace and detachment from the world outside.