Seville Sights

  1. Aire de Sevilla

    Time to give those weary sightseeing muscles a soothing soak? Head over to the Arab baths, Aire de Sevilla, with two warm pools and one cold, plus a steam room.

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  2. Alcázar

    A World Heritage monument, the Alcázar is Seville's Alhambra, smaller but just as beautiful.

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  3. Antigua Fábrica de Tabacos

    It may be part of the Universidad de Sevilla (Seville University) now, but the massive old tobacco factory used to be the cornerstone of the city's economy. The workplace of Bizet's operatic heroine Carmen was built in the 18th century and fed the nation's nicotine addiction right up until the mid-20th century.

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  4. Archive of the Indies

    On the western side of Plaza del Triunfo, the Archive of the Indies is the main archive on Spain's American empire, with 80 million pages of documents dating from 1492 through to the end of the empire in the 19th century. The 16th-century building, designed by Juan de Herrera, was originally built as a merchants' exchange. It was closed for restoration work at the time of writing.

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  5. Ayuntamiento

    With a lively history as a market square in Muslim times and then the prime spot for Inquisition burnings, Plaza de San Francisco has been Seville's main public square since the 16th century. The southern end of the Ayuntamiento here is encrusted with lovely Renaissance carving from the 1520s and '30s.

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  7. Basílica de Jesús del Gran Poder

    The Basílica de Jesús del Gran Poder, north of Seville's centre, houses some of the famous Semana Santa images.

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  8. Basílica de la Macarena

    If you're not in Seville for Semana Santa, you can get an inkling of what it's all about at this 1940s church, which is home to the most adored religious image in all of Andalucía, the 17th-century Virgen de la Esperanza (Hope) sculpture. Commonly known simply as La Macarena, she is the patron saint of bullfighters and the city's supreme representation of the grieving yet sanguine mother of Christ.

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  9. Bullring

    Seville's Bullring is one of the most handsome in Spain and probably the oldest (building began in 1758). It was here, and in the ring at Ronda, that bullfighting on foot (instead of horseback) began in the 18th century. Interesting guided visits, in English and Spanish, take you into the ring and its museum, with a peep into the minihospital for bullfighters who have come off second best.

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  10. Cabildo

    The beautifully domed Cabildo, in the southeastern corner of the cathedral, was built between 1558 and 1592 to the designs of Hernán Ruiz, architect of the Giralda belfry. High above the archbishop's throne at the southern end is a Murillo masterpiece, La Inmaculada . Eight Murillo saints adorn the dome.

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  11. Capilla de los Marineros

    At the Capilla de los Marineros you'll find the gorgeously bedecked, much adored image of the Virgen de la Esperanza (Virgin of Hope), patroness of Triana sailors, another religious figure who has an honoured role in the Semana Santa processions.

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  13. Capilla de San Antonio

    The sheer size of the broad, five-naved cathedral is obscured by a welter of interior decoration typical of Spanish cathedrals. The chapels along the northern and southern sides are as rich in sculpture, stained glass and painting as any church chapels in Spain. Near the western end of the northern side is the Capilla de San Antonio, with Murillo's large 1666 canvas depicting the vision of St Anthony of Padua; thieves excised the kneeling saint in 1874 but he was found in New York and put back.

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  14. Capilla de San José

    Pedestrianised Calle Sierpes, heading north from the plaza, and the parallel Calle Tetuán/Velázquez, are the hub of Seville's fanciest shopping zone. Between the two streets is the 18th-century Capilla de San José, with breathtakingly intense baroque ornamentation.

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  15. Capilla del Rocío

    In the southern part of Triana, the Capilla del Rocío is home to the Hermandad del Rocío de Triana. The departure of this brotherhood's procession of horses and covered wagons to El Rocío on the Thursday before Pentecost is one of the most colourful and emotive events in the Seville calendar.

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  16. Capilla Mayor

    Towards the east end of the main nave of the Cathedral is the Capilla Mayor, whose Gothic altarpiece is the jewel of the cathedral and reckoned to be the biggest altarpiece in the world. Begun by Flemish sculptor Pieter Dancart in 1482 and completed by others by 1564, this sea of gilded and polychromed wood holds more than 1000 carved biblical figures. At the centre of the lowest level is the 13th-century image of the Virgen de la Sede, patron of the cathedral.

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  17. Cartuja 93

    Many of the exotic Expo pavilions are now encompassed within this technology park, which is home to nearly 200 companies and organisations employing nearly 9000 people. Many of the pavilions still look futuristic, though the built-in obsolescence of a few is starting to show through. You can wander around the area during daylight hours but you may find that the gates are only open on the western side on Calle Américo Vespucio.

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  19. Casa de Pilatos

    The finest of Seville's noble mansions and still occupied by the ducal Medinaceli family, the Casa de Pilatos is a mixture of Mudejar, Gothic and Renaissance architecture and decoration. With some beautiful tilework and artesonado ceilings, the overall effect is similar to that of the Alcázar.

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  20. Cathedral

    After Seville fell to the Christians in 1248 its main mosque was used as a church until 1401 when, in view of its decaying state, the church authorities decided to knock it down and start again. 'Let us create such a building that future generations will take us for lunatics', they reputedly agreed.

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  21. Conjunto Monumental de la Cartuja

    Founded in 1399, the Conjunto Monumental de la Cartuja became the favourite Sevillan lodging place for Columbus, King Felipe II and other luminaries. Columbus' remains lay here from 1509 to 1536. Over the centuries benefactors endowed the monastery with a rich collection of Sevillan art, but in 1836 the monks were expelled during the Disentailment (when church property was auctioned off by the state).

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  22. Empresa Pagés

    From the start of the season until late June/early July, nearly all the bullfights in Seville are by fully fledged matadors. Only cheap sol seats (in the sun at the start of proceedings) may be available to those who don't hold season tickets for professional bullfights. Most of the rest of the season, novice bullfights (novilleras) are held. Tickets are sold in advance at Empresa Pagés, and from on fight days at the bullring itself.

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  23. Estadio Manuel Ruiz de Lopera

    It is said that the only thing that divides Seville, apart from the Guadalquivir, is the sevillanos' passionate support for its two rival professional clubs, Real Betis and Sevilla. Both teams are currently well established in the Primera Liga and players on Betis' books include Spanish international midfield star Joaquín.

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  25. Estadio Sánchez Pizjuán

    It is said that the only thing that divides Seville, apart from the Guadalquivir, is the sevillanos' passionate support for its two rival professional clubs, Real Betis and Sevilla. Both teams are currently well established in the Primera Liga, and Sevilla won the UEFA Cup in 2006.

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  26. Hospital de la Caridad

    A marvellous sample of Sevillan golden-age art adorns the church in this charity hospice, the Hospital de la Caridad, a block from the river. The hospital was founded in the 17th century by Miguel de Mañara, by legend a notorious libertine who changed his ways after experiencing a vision of his own funeral procession.

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  27. Hospital de los Venerables Sacerdotes

    The 17th-century Hospital de los Venerables Sacerdotes was a residence for aged priests. You can visit the lovely central courtyard, several exhibition rooms, and the church with murals by Valdés Leal and fine sculptures by Pedro Roldán.

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  28. Iglesia de la Magdalena

    One of Seville's outstanding baroque churches, the Iglesia de la Magdalena was built between 1691 and 1709. Two paintings by Zurbarán hang in the Capilla Sacramental (the first chapel on the right from the entrance), and a fine 1612 Crucifixion sculpture, El Cristo del Calvario (The Christ of Calvary) by Francisco de Ocampo, is in the chapel to the right of the main altar.

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  29. Iglesia de San Luis

    One of Seville's most impressive churches, Iglesia de San Luis stands 500m south of the Basílica de la Macarena. Designed for the Jesuits by Leonardo de Figueroa in 1731, the baroque San Luis has an unusual equal-armed cross plan, 16 twisting stone pillars and a superb soaring dome. Statues of saints and virtues by Pedro de Mena perch very precariously on pedestals around the lower levels of the dome.

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