Walking Tour of Seville, Spain

       Seville Walking Tour
 
     Begin at Seville’s Cathedral, the largest in Europe. Inside, be sure to marvel at the Main Chapel whose altar displays Santa Maria de la Sede, its patron saint, surrounded by golden relief panels. Also of note inside is the Tomb of Christopher Columbus (no one really knows if he is truly buried here).
     On the outside, notice the beautiful, Moorish Giralda, long time symbol of the city, and the Patio of the Oranges, both relics of the time when on this site was a mosque.
     Exit the front of the church. Straight ahead is the Archivo de Indias which contains documents concerning Spain’s colonization of the Americas. Just to its left and straight ahead beyond the Plaza del Triunfo is Seville’s Royal Palace. The Moorish architecture is stunning and the extensive and impeccably-landscaped gardens are pleasant to stroll.
    Exit the palace and turn right (eastward) and then right again into Seville’s most charming district, the Barrio Santa Cruz. This was the city’s old Jewish Quarter, but now is simply a delightful area to wander and get lost in. Make an attempt to travel southeasterly to emerge onto Calle de Menendez Pelayo. Take a right and continue to the entrance to Maria Luisa Park, Seville’s gem of a city park.
     The beautiful grounds were given to the city in 1893 and the site was subsequently upgraded for the 1929 Spanish-American Exposition. The hallmark of the park is the Plaza de Espana, decorated with thousands of colorful ceramic tiles for which this region is known. Also noteworthy is the Plaza de America which is flanked by several museums.
     Leave the park by traveling westward and walk north along the Guadalquivir River on Paseo de las Delicias. Just past the Puente de San Telmo (about 3 kilometers north of the park) is the Torre del Oro, on the left between the road and the river, This was a defensive tower when built in 1220 AD but is now a museum.
     After checking out the tower, return to the San Telmo Bridge and cross the river into the Triana section of town. Take a right onto Calle del Betis and enjoy the wonderful restaurants and shops that have replaced the old ghetto.
    Take a right and cross back over to the City Center via the Puente de Isabel II. Once across, turn right again and cross the avenue to see Seville’s bullring (Plaza de Toros de la Maestranza), one of Spain’s oldest and most beautiful. Walk around the bullring on Calle Circo, then take a right onto Calle de Adriano. Follow this road (which changes its name) until you reach the Cathedral where you started the walking tour.
    

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