Seville

History of Seville

In the past the port of Seville played an important role in commerce between Spain and the Americas and remains today one of the most active river ports of the Iberian peninsula.

The Tartessians were the original founders of Hispalis. Next to this settlement, in 207 B.C. the Romans built Italica. It was the center of their Western Mediterranean dominions for seven centuries until the Roman Empire was overrun by people from the North at the beginning of the 10th century.

The long Moorish occupation of the Iberian Peninsula, from 711 A.D. to 1248 A.D., left indelible traces in Seville as in all of Al-Andalus. La Giralda, the tower of an important mosque is the most well known of the remaining Islamic monuments.

In 1492 Seville played an important role in the discovery and conquest of America.

The 17th century was a period of artistic splendor in Seville. Painters such as Murillo and Valdes Leal, and sculptors like Martinez Montanes were born in Seville and left behind important works. The city also assumed an important role in world literature and was the birthplace of the myth of Don Juan.

On two occasions in the 20th century, Seville has been in the spotlight of the world’s attention. In 1929, it hosted the Latin American Exhibition, which left important urban improvements in the city. More recently, Expo 92 reinforced the image of Seville as a modern and dynamic city.

Places worth a visit in Seville are: the renaissance Town Hall and the Gold Tower, once a bastion of the Almohad curtain walls located on the Guadalquivir River. The lovely Tabacco Factory, a baroque building, that houses the University and the lovely Plaza de España square (get those cameras ready) built of brick and ceramics, it is a semicircular structure, surrounded by a canal where one can row a boat. At Maria Luisa Park, admire the pools and fountains and then visit the *Cathedral with Columbus’ Tomb, third largest Cathedral in Europe. Walk through the tiny narrow streets of the Santa Cruz quarters (old Jewish section) with it’s balconies and flowers. *La Giralda, the minaret of the Arab mosque dating from the 12th c. was incorporated as a bell tower in the magnificent Gothic Cathedral three hundred years later. Also is the “Reales Alcazares” an Arab fortress with beautiful gardens, and the famous Archive of the Indias.

Seville and its palaces

Lebrija Palace Doña Regla Manjon Mergelina, Countess of Lebrija and her successors have taken steps to keep the Palacio de Lebrija intact. Thus in the very heart of Seville, behind a simple and somber-looking facade, there hides a whole world of electric beauty, worthy of admiration: an authentic museum full of showcases with items from Ancient Rome, such as vases, coins, pottery, jewelry, etc.

The building dates from the 15th century with subsequent rebuilding in the 16th century. The facade, eminently Sevillian in style, has certain majesty of lines which counterbalances it’s austere somberness.

Location: downtown Seville

Casa de Pilatos This is perhaps the most beautiful Renaissance Palace in Seville. Popular legend holds that the name is due to it’s being a faithful reproduction of Pontius Pilate’s Praetorium in Jerusalem. The fact is that Don Fabrique Enriquez de Ribera, Marquis of Tarifa, journeyed to the Holy Land in 1521 and on his return resumed work on the palace, which had been commenced by his father. Among the numerous architectural items imported from Genoa are the main doorway and the columns and fountains of the main patio, by Antonio Maria Aprile de Carona and Pace Gazini. The decorated tile work, dating from 1535-38, was designed by the Polido Brothers.

Location: old quarter of downtown Seville

Cortijo Torre de la Reina Historical background: The location now called Torre de la Reina was the rearguard settlement for one of the camps of king Ferdinand III the Saint during the conquest of Seville. In the last years of the 13th century and the first of the 14th, it belonged to Queen Maria de Molina, which explains the origin of its name.

The enormous relevance of the Fortress, lies in the fact that, beside its being a royal property, it is the only rural building from those times within Seville’s environment. At present the whole ensemble has been declared a National Monument.

Location: 12 kms (7 1/2 miles) from Seville in Gillena

Seville is also known for bullfights and fiery Flamenco dancing and of course the famous “tapas”. Tapa bars can be found around the Cathedral, in the beautiful Santa Cruz Quarter, the bull-ring and everywhere you go. Tapas are small dishes that accompany a glass of wine or beer.

Seville is known for two great celebrations, “Feria de Abril” the April Fare, and “Semana Santa” Holy Week (Easter). 

Further out of Seville are the remains of the Roman city of Italica, founded by Scipio, located in the town of Santiponce, just 10 minutes from the Capital. Here, two Emperors were born, Trajan and Hadrian. In the Archaeology Museum of Seville, one can view mosaics and many sculptures and other objects from Italica.

Another important town, just 19 miles from Seville is Carmona.A beautiful monumental walled town, as recognized by a Decree declaring it of historic and artistic interest in 1963. The origins of Carmona go back to the bronze age when the first tribes took advantage of the strategic location, then came the Carthagerans, the Romans and the Arabs. At the Puerta (door) of Sevilla Alcazar, as at other sites elsewhere in the town, remains have been found dating from the 14th to the 12th centuries BC. The first fortification on this site was a tower, with a circular ground plan some ten meters in diameter, which formed part of a larger defensive complex dating back to the 8th century BC. One can stroll around this pleasant town, enjoy the shops, or take a coffee at one of the outside cafes. Products that typify this area are the olives, pure olive oil and the little “tortas” cakes.

There is a very interesting Museum as you come down the hill from the Parador with information on how the town began.

Carmona is home to the impressive Parador Alcazar del Rey Don Pedro. This spectacular Parador is built into one of the forts of the wall that surrounds the whole town and offers magnificent views of the valley with it fertile farmland.