When we flew into Seville from Basel, our family was buzzing with excitement. It was the beginning of our three-week trip to Spain. My husband has always dreamed of visiting Spain, and I was so excited to plan the trip from Seville-Cordoba-Toledo-Madrid-Segovia-Zaragosa-Barcelona-Valencia. It was a crazy 3 weeks, but Seville was the perfect, magical start to an amazing trip.
Seville is one of those places that the moment you get off the plane, you're relaxed. As you walk out of the airport, the sun is shining, the air smells like oranges, and everyone seems so happy. The architecture is gorgeous. Every time I think back to Seville, I smile because it's just such a magical place.
The best way to experience Seville is to allow yourself to get lost. Experience the relaxed way of life. Dine al fresco, grab a churro, or stop at La Cacharreria de Sevilla for the best toast, pastries, and coffee in town. We didn’t have a bad meal during our visit, so trust your gut, check out the menu, and go for it. We had some of the best tapas in Spain during this leg of our trip.
Keep an eye out for some particularly beautiful Moorish tile and pottery during your visit. I was able to score some gorgeous ones at an antique shop. Triana is a neighborhood in Seville that is known for its gorgeous tile and pottery. Make time to visit if you can. The locals take a lot of pride in their neighborhood, and you can tell by the bustle of the markets, and the rush on the streets, that this is a very happening neighborhood. Our favorite pottery shop was Ceramico Triana.
I have the fondest memories of our girls running through Alcazar Gardens and Maria Luisa Park, the scent of oranges filling the air. We walked through Barrio Santa Cruz (aka the Jewish Quarter) and were spellbound by the whitewashed buildings and the peaceful streets. Enjoy some flamenco, treat yourself to a flamenco fan (we bought gorgeous, hand painted ones at Aire Distinto), and allow yourself to be taken over by Andalusian culture.
Seville was the perfect place to welcome Spring and sunshine back into my life. After months of grey in Zurich, it was so recharging and refreshing to bask in sunshine and a laid-back atmosphere. I hope to plan a visit back sometime in the near future.
Sites to See:
By Foot:
- Metropol Parasol (aka The Mushrooms)
- Monumento a Cervantes
- Plaza Nueva
- Catedral de Sevilla
- Plaza Virgen de los Reyes
- Plaza del Triunfo
- Plaza del Cabildo
- Barrio Santa Cruz (Juderia)
- Real Alcazar de Sevilla
- Igleisa Santa Maria La Blanca & wandering (We saw a really amazing procession for Semana Santa)
- Plaza de Espana
- La Alameda
- Torre del Oro
- Maria Luisa Park
- Casa de Pilatos
- Palacio de las Duenas
By Car or Public Transport (depending on where you stay, of course)
- Triana (We drove and didn’t have trouble finding parking.)
- Check out Puente de Isabel II
- Triana Pottery
- Walk down the river and enjoy the views
Good to know:
There are playgrounds tucked in many streets and piazzas. As I’m sure you’ve read, if you’re traveling with kids, the Spanish are extremely accommodating. Many places have baby chairs, but I found it helpful to have a travel baby chair to make things in restaurants easier.
The majority of the streets are cobblestone. Wear comfortable walking shoes.
Things close for a few hours after lunch. Lunch is generally from 1:30-3:30. Dinner is served after 8pm. Tapas are served all day.
Seville is the home of Flamenco. If you want to see a show, book well ahead of time, or you’ll find, as we did, that you’re out of luck. We saw it in Barcelona, and it was great fun, but I think it would’ve been amazing to see it in Seville