Seville, Spain

Seville is another impressive city in Spain. It is not only the capital of Andalusia. He is a pearl in its crown, the world capital of flamenco, an important stop on the path to world football.
The history of Seville is interesting and begins with the Romans. Hercules is considered the legendary founder of the city, and Julius Caesar the real one. The city was conquered by the Visigoths, then by the Arabs. In 711, the Moors invaded Seville and slowed the development of the city. It takes the whole 4 centuries for the city to reach its apogee and it is not late.
The city flourished under the rule of the Almohad dynasty. The golden age of Seville came to an end in 1248, when King Fernando III of Castile took Seville from the Moors, but it was not until the 15th century with the discovery of America that it reached a new heyday.
Flamenco is another sign that speaks of another foreign presence in Spanish lands - the gypsies. Expressing everything through dance, they leave their mark on local folklore - flamenco, their way of life. Telling the drama of their fate, the dance manages to touch every visitor to Seville.
Flamenco is a struggle full of jealousy, it is a liberated soul with a longing for life. Such is the temperament of all Spaniards. Not only those of the past, but also those of the “future.” In Seville, there are people open to the world who are passionate about flamenco, bullfighting, processions, fiestas and tapas.
After a two-year siege on November 23, 1248, Ferdinand III of Castile defeated the Moors and immediately rebuilt many of the magnificent mosques into Christian temples. This is how one of the most visited places in Seville appeared - its cathedral. In 1401 the Great Mosque was destroyed, of which only the minaret and the courtyard are preserved. The Giralda of Seville is the most exquisite memory of the Almuhad dynasty, the minaret of the Alhama, the mosque on which the cathedral was built. The tower was completed in 1198 by the architect Ali de Gomara. In the 16th century, a Renaissance bell tower with 25 bells of different ages was added, and the weather vane, whence its name, was completed.
The relics of Christopher Columbus are laid to rest in the Cathedral of Seville, and the main chapel is preferred for the preservation of the priceless works of Murillo, Goya and Zurban. This spiritual home is an amazing combination of late Gothic and Renaissance style, and its construction took more than a century.
The Seville Cathedral is quite ugly on the outside, but with many hidden treasures inside - iconostasis, stained glass, paintings and organ. Today, the cathedral is still considered the third largest after St. Peter's Basilica in Rome and St. Paul's Basilica in London.
Just 10 minutes from Seville Cathedral is Plaza de España, which is the heart of the city. Plaza de España is one of the most famous places in Seville, built in honor of an exhibition of Spanish colonies held in the early 20th century.
In the immediate vicinity is the Maria Luisa Park, donated to the city by Infanta Maria Luisa in 1893. Its 38 hectares are filled with architectural landmarks, and numerous intersections and alleys cross the park to connect the numerous buildings built for Ibero- the American exhibition. Today, each building has a new purpose - consulates, museums, art school, flamenco school or police department.
The beautiful fountain in Plaza de España is a starting point for everyone in the city. Whether a local who decided to venture into the nightlife or just eat topaz in a restaurant, or a tourist who took a tour of the city. It all starts with this fabulous fountain.
The square is a stage for many street musicians and artists performing impromptu performances, and a workplace for coachmen dressed as old Sevillians, inviting for a walk in shiny carriages. On Saturday and Sunday, one can witness how people in Seville get married. Apart from being a city of flamenco and bullfighting, Seville is also one of the strongest strongholds of Catholicism, as evidenced by the religious processions that are again taking place in Plaza de España.
The square has shared part of its area with the majestically rising Spanish National Pavilion - a huge masterpiece of the Neo-Andalusian Baroque designed by Anibal Gonzalez. This is a spectacular creation, unique in significance for Seville, representing each Spanish province through an important historical event, recreated on tiles.
But the architectural landmarks in Seville are not limited to those described above. The Museo de Artes y Costumbres Populares de Sevilla, built in a grand Mudejar pavilion, deserves attention for its ceramic exhibits, while the Archaeological Museum captivates with its magnificent collection of Phoenician sculptures, Iberian golden treasure Carambolo, Roman art and mudejar. Ruins of Italica - the hometown of the emperors Hadrian and Trajan, as well as the remains of Hispalis - the Roman city of this place, such as the aqueduct, columns and statues of Hercules and Julius Caesar of Alameda.
There is also a neighborhood of the Jewish community in Seville, a ghetto with its own justice, called Barrio de Santa Cruz. From 1248, when Seville was taken from the Moors, to 1492, when the Jews were expelled from Spain, it was home to about 400 Jews. Today's image of Santa Cruz is a completely changed residential area, further beautified by tourists, as the walk past the flower-strewn houses of Seville fills with peace and hope for passers-by. The place is associated with the names of Don Juan, Carmen, the Barber of Seville. Here is the house where the famous artist Murillo lived.
In addition to sightseeing and enriching knowledge of culture and history, Seville offers opportunities for many emotional and shocking experiences. One of them is bullfighting. The bullfighting season starts at Easter and lasts until the beginning of October. It is held on the Plaza de Toros, chosen as an arena in the XVIII century, with an attached museum that preserves many specimens related to the bullfight.
To study the passionate history of flamenco, you must visit some of the many bars where shows are organized. Among them are flamenco restaurants El Arenal and El Palacio Andaluz.
In Seville, the nightlife is on par, and its nightlife is one of the most charming and lively in Spain. Seville is a city for all emotions and desires. This is confirmed by the opportunity for every tourist to find a place that suits his taste - from modern clubs to typical bars, carrying the spirit of Andalusia.
This is Seville - a picture painted with love, where everything is immersed in majestic silence. Calmness hovers in the air, Reality is different from the usual and you can not help but notice the elegance in every place. Fountains reminiscent of the coolness of the hot days of the year, and gardens that smell of youth that makes you forget about everything. Barriers fall, prejudices disappear and you feel part of the streets, the buildings, the parks, the people, the atmosphere, the spirit.
In Seville, the people truly feel Spain. In Seville, the air is full of desire for life, and its appearance creates a general feeling of openness and festivity. Guitar chords float around the city, and people keep dancing.
In the 20th century, Seville hosted two major events - the Ibero-American Exhibition in 1929 and the World Exposition in 1992.