According to tradition, Seville was founded by Hercules, who appears to have played a very active role in the many ancient legends concerning the origins of Andalucia. Like many other towns and cities in this region, Seville was first a prosperous Phoenician settlement, then occupied by Greeks, Carthaginians, Romans, Visigoths (to whom it was their capital) and, in 712, by Arabs under whom it flourished. During the 13th century, King Ferdinand III triumphantly took over and was ultimately buried here. In the 15th century the Catholic Monarchs established their court in Seville in old Moorish buildings.
However, it was the discovery of America and the consequent expansion of trade and commerce that brought Seville to a height of glory and considerable increase in population. A plague epidemic in 1649 was the start of a progessive but temporary decline. Seville is now the administrative capital of Andalucia.
Sightseeing:
- The Cathedral - built on the site of a mosque of which remains can still be seen. These include the Patio de los Naranjos where worshippers performed ritual cleansing, and the almost 100 metre high minaret built in the 12th century, skilfully modified to become the bell tower of the new Cathedral. The Cathedral itself was started in Gothic style in 1402, but became more and more Renaissance as the years passed. One of the last additions to the Cathedral was the tomb of Christopher Columbus, made by Arturo Melida in the 19th century and brought over from the Havana Cathedral in 1899.
- The Reales Alcazares - once composed of many buildings of which now only the walls, two towers built in 1220 and the Patio del Yeso (Chalk Courtyard) survive. The original buildings were replaced by a magnificent palace designed in Mudejar style, finished in the 14th century.
- The Parque de Maria Luisa - a romantic park created in 1893 for a princess.
- The Plaza de Espana - has benches with ceramic tiles depicting allegories of the 53 Spanish provinces.
- The Museum of Folk Art and Costume - a detailed illustration of everday life in Seville housing furniture, utensils, clothing, ceramics and jewellery.
- The Archaeological Museum - one of the most important in Spain for ancient Roman relics and sculptures. Many of the pieces come from the nearby Italica, one of the first Roman cities in Spain founded in 206 BC.
- The Isla Magica theme park and the Expo '92 park in which it is sited.
|
Other Links: