Spanish singer Lola Flores once said, “Seville is like dreaming of heaven.” Her celestial comparison is difficult to argue with. The honeyed light cast over this fairytale Spanish city is something otherworldly, particularly at sunset, when the Guadalquivir river glistens like an emerald and Seville’s hulking monuments, like Metropol Parasol and Plaza de España, appear gilded in gold.
The capital of Andalucía is undoubtedly one of the country’s most romantic cities, where spellbound flamenco guitarists blow through narrow, cobbled alleyways, strumming evocative melodies to everyone and nobody. In the old Jewish quarter, trees, dense with oranges, shade suited veterans sipping cortados in the picturesque, floral plazas.
Come spring, Holy Week and the Feria rouse the city from its sedate wintry slumber as thousands of old-school tapas bars chatter with life. Elsewhere, tourists gaze at Seville’s grand cathedral, resplendent as ever under the glaring Andalucían sun. And if any of that whets your appetite, it’s only the start. Here are the best things to do in Seville.
Royal AlcazarGetty Images
1. Wander around or watch a concert at the Royal Alcázar
Combining Islamic, Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque architectural styles, this splendid former fort is home to a patchwork of well-manicured gardens, elaborate patios, roving peacocks, crane-sized palm trees and decorative water features. The majestic palace was also famously filmed as the setting of the Kingdom of Dorne in Game of Thrones. The queues at the Royal Alcázar are long in summer, so book tickets in advance to save having to stand for ages in the searing heat. Alternatively, for something musical, look out for the concert series, ‘Nights in the Gardens of the Royal Alcázar’. From June to September, Europe’s oldest active royal palace turns into a spectacular outdoor music venue showcasing everything from jazz to classical music and opera.