Interesting facts to know about Seville before you visit
Posted on 21 . September 2021
Image credit: Shutterstock
Seville is one of Spain’s most magnificent gems, a city of great historical value, architectural beauty, culture, and excitement. If you are planning to visit Seville and the wider Andalusia region, perhaps via a Malaga airport car rental, you will find so much to discover and celebrate. In this guide, we highlight some of the most interesting facts about Seville, preparing you for your future visit and hopefully giving you few ideas for what you would like to see and do.
Seville is the capital of Andalusia
Seville isn’t just one of many random beautiful cities, it is the capital of Andalusia – one of the most popular regions in the country. Bordering Spain’s southern coast, this large, autonomous region contains so much to see and do, including the beloved Costa del Sol, that it says a lot that Seville is its crown jewel. Seville is the fourth largest city in Spain and has a visible history that goes all the way back to Roman times.
Maggie, from the travel blog The World Was Here First, has visited Andalusia’s capital city herself, and spoke to us about what she believes makes Seville so special: “Seville is one of my most favourite places to visit in Spain. Not only is it absolutely beautiful, but it is packed with fascinating history and the food scene is top-notch. If you’re interested in experiencing Spanish tapas culture, then there is arguably no better place to do this than Seville. Going on a tapas crawl can lead you from historic old bars serving up traditional Sevillano dishes to hip new eateries putting modern spins on old classics.
“Visiting the bustling Mercado de Triana is also an excellent place to really get to know about Spanish culinary culture, especially considering the backdrop of such a diverse and historic neighbourhood. Seville has an undeniable energy to it that makes it somewhere that everyone should try to visit at least once in their lifetime.”
Seville is home to the world’s biggest gothic cathedral
Image credit: Shutterstock
When in Seville, visiting the city’s cathedral is a must. This majestic structure is the world’s biggest gothic cathedral and the fourth largest church of any type. It was completed in the early 16th century, finally supplanting the iconic Hagia Sophia as the then-largest church in the world. This Roman Catholic cathedral occupies 11,520 square feet and the church’s sublime Giralda tower is 104.5 metres tall. Its doors and facades are just magnificent to behold, and lovers of art or history will find so much to saviour throughout.
Jess, from the travel blog, A Passion and a Passport, has visited the cathedral and recommends visitors climb its iconic tower: “If you are feeling energetic, then take a climb up the Giralda Tower which was once part of the Almohad Mosque. The tower reached 104 metres and was used for the call to prayer when the Moors ruled Seville. It is a steep climb up the ramps and was why donkeys were used to carry the man assigned to perform the call to prayer.”
READ ALSO: Free things to do in Seville
Seville has three World Heritage Sites
History is everywhere you look in Seville and this lineage has been recognised by UNESCO as the city boasts three World Heritage Sites. They are the Seville Cathedral, Alcázar Palace, and the Archivo de Indias.
Seville’s Cathedral is an exquisite example of gothic architecture and a treasure of the Roman Catholic world. The Alcázar is a royal palace, still utilised today by the royal family, and started life as a Moorish fortress before the palace was built by Castilian Christians in the 14th century. Then there is the Archivo de Indias, a serene structure from the 16th century, which contains enormously valuable documents from the Spanish Empire.
It goes without saying these three locations are all must-visits during your time in Seville and provide a fascinating look into the city’s past and present culture.
Seville was a filming location for Game of Thrones and Star Wars
Image credit: Shutterstock
With Seville’s majestic architecture and unique visual flavour, the city has become a popular filming location over the years. In recent times, there has been no more significant production to come to the city than the fantasy TV series Game of Thrones, which filmed scenes at the Alcázar Palace for season five. This palace provided the filming location for the kingdom of Dorne and the locations of the Water Gardens and Sunspear.
Jiayi, from the travel blog, The Diary of a Nomad, has spent time at the Alcázar, and loved what it has to offer: “Walking around the Alcázar, you can admire the magnificent Mudéjar architecture there blended with elements from the Renaissance, Gothic, and Romanesque styles. The upper floors of the complex are the official residence of the Spanish royal family today — the king’s sister even held her wedding celebrations there.”
Game of Thrones isn’t the only production to come to Seville with Star Wars being another massive name to utilise the city’s beauty, shooting scenes from Attack of the Clones at Seville’s magnificent Plaza de España. The Plaza was built in 1928, a mixture of architectural styles from Spain’s past and is a photographer’s dream. You can’t leave without visiting it for yourself.
Someone who made sure to stop by was Greta from the travel blog Greta’s Travels, and we asked her if she enjoyed her visit: “Yes, I loved visiting Plaza de España in Seville. The square is huge with lots of different elements you can explore, from wandering beneath the intricate porches to enjoying the view over Plaza de España.
“The architecture and colours are simply gorgeous, and you can never get enough of them. You can also go on a little boat cruise along the canal of Plaza de España, perfect for those visiting in summer who want to get a different perspective of this beautiful plaza.”
READ ALSO: 48 hours in Seville
Seville claims to be the birthplace of tapas
When in Andalusia, sitting down for a spot of tapas is an integral part of the experience. Doing as the locals do is a great way to immerse yourself in the culture of a city and in Seville, tapas is a part of daily life. Seville lays claim to being the birthplace of tapas, with the story being that it started at a farmer’s bar, where beer and sherry were served with a saucer on top to keep flies out, then realising the saucer could be filled out with ham, olives, and cheese. With the word ‘tapas’ literally meaning lid or cover, one can see how this story came about.
Whatever the true origins may be, make sure you head to one of Seville’s many lovely bars for a taste of the local tapas and a refreshing beverage. Speaking to us about the tapas scene in Seville, Chris from the travel blog Explore Now or Never, shared her recommendations:
“Tapas culture in Seville is world-class. Popular traditional dishes here include spinach and chickpeas, acorn-fed Iberico ham, and lots of fried croquettes. Pringa—a pork stew spread—is served between slices of bread. And don’t miss the boquerones (white anchovies)! Served with lemon juice, garlic, and olive oil, these are completely different than the anchovies you’ll find in other areas. For a truly authentic experience dipping into Sevilla’s tapas culture, head directly to El Rinconcillo. This restaurant, which opened in 1670, feels like stepping into a time capsule and the tapas never disappoint.”
Seville is home to wonderful festivals
Image credit: Shutterstock
They know how to do festivals right in Seville with the city being home to some incredible celebrations of local culture. Two of the best known are Semana Santa and Feria de Abril. Semana Santa is the city’s Holy Week celebrations, starting on Palm Sunday up until Easter itself. Anyone who has been to this part of the world knows what a truly special occasion Holy Week is with its incredible processions, beautiful floats, and high emotion.
Feria de Abril arrives two weeks after the Holy Week festivities and is known as the fair to end all fairs. The fairground is brightly illuminated, delicious food is served, the flamenco is danced, immense facades are erected, and good times are had by all, ending with fireworks on the final night.
Speaking to us about Feria de Abril, otherwise known as the Seville Fair, Molly, from the travel blog Piccavey, shared more of what visitors can expect:
“The Seville Fair is probably the most famous of all the Spanish fairs. It’s been going since 1846 but became the big event that it is today in the 1920s. For visitors who aren’t locals, over recent years the tourist board has made the Feria de Abril more accessible to foreign visitors. Known because many of the casetas (booths) are private and by invitation only, there are more casetas that are open to visitors now than in previous years.
“Spread over 450,000 m², the fairground is separated into areas of attractions like waltzers, merry-go-rounds and a funfair. The other areas are marquees with food, drink and dancing. The locals take a lot of effort to wear traditional flamenco dresses. So, if you want to join in the fun you can accessorize by wearing one of the typical mantillas (coloured shawls) and a flower in your hair. A bit of colour without the expense of the whole outfit.”
Feria de Abril will be back in 2022 after being absent due to the global health crisis, and it will be a party that you will not want to miss.
Seville is Christopher Columbus’ final resting place
At Seville’s Cathedral, the famed explorer Christopher Columbus is laid to rest. After his death in 1506, Columbus was first buried in Valladolid. The explorer was to be moved three more times, including to the Dominican Republic and then Cuba before finally finding his permanent grave in Seville’s grand cathedral. His tomb is a sight to behold, with his coffin being carried by kings of Castile, Leon, Aragon, and Navarre.
Seville has its own secret motto
When exploring Seville, you will no doubt come across a mysterious looking phrase dotted around the city. ‘NO8DO’ is Seville’s motto, and it can be seen on flags, programmes, and even drain covers. But what does it mean? It translates to “She has not abandoned me”, a reference to the city of Seville itself, from the point of view of King Alfonso X, who was in a battle for the throne during the 13th century, and Seville was rewarded for its loyalty to the king.
But why the number 8? Well, this is said to represent a skein of yarn – a loose coil – which translates in Spanish to ‘madeja’, and when said with the other words in the phrase, it sounds like ‘no me ha dejado’, and this is how we arrive at the motto ‘she has not abandoned me’.
Fun facts about Seville to inspire your trip
- Seville is the capital of Andalucia
- Seville is home to the world’s biggest gothic cathedral
- Seville has three World Heritage Sites
- Seville was a filming location for Game of Thrones
- Seville claims to be the birthplace of tapas
- Seville is home to wonderful festivals
- Seville is home to Christopher Columbus’ final resting place
- Seville has its own secret motto
Seville has so much to offer visitors and if immersing yourself in the culture of a beautiful Spanish city is high on your to-do list, this Andalusia highlight can’t be missed. So, start planning your trip and see what all the fuss is about for yourself.
For more tips, guides, and advice, make sure to visit our blog.