Sites & Insights: Seville City Tour

Seville, capital of Andalusia and a crucial riverport city, boasts a rich history. Our Introduction to Seville tour makes for a culturally rich experience for travelers looking to see more of Spain. From its beginnings as a Roman settlement to its identity as Moorish territory, and eventually as a center for Christian rule, Seville has been molded by a variety of influences—including its strategic position along the Guadalquivir River—creating the dynamic city it is today. Our 3-hour Seville walking tour, guided by a historian, will provide an overview of the city's history, chronicling its storied origins by examining the highlights—Roman ruins, elaborate Mudéjar architecture, and immense monuments—of its historic core.

We will meet our guide and commence our tour at the mammoth Metropol Parasol (Las Setas de la Encarnación), a monument that represents a fascinating juxtaposition of ancient and contemporary. The interwoven, waffle-like wooden structure was built to house the city's Roman artifacts but grew to offer a variety of public services, from restaurants below to a terrace with sweeping, panoramic views above. Together, we will discuss this site as it pertains to the city's Roman origins and its influence on Seville's overall development. It is also here where we can see one of the most stunning archaeological finds in the city, unearthed during construction in 2011. Viewing the ruins beneath Las Setas in the Antiquarium museum, we'll learn about Seville during the Roman period.

Moving on, we will immerse ourselves in the narrow streets of the city's Alfalfa, El Arenal, and Santa Cruz neighborhoods, weaving the story of the 8th-century Muslim conquest and its indelible mark on the city with that of the Christian monarchs who succeeded it. We'll peek into a hidden Mudéjar-style courtyard, which reveals the Moorish legacy on the city's architecture. We'll discover a medieval shipyard, long in disuse, continuing our discussion of the importance of river trade on the city's development. We may even pass by the bust of Peter I of Castile, learning about the legend of this last monarch of Burgundy. We'll spend significant time at one of Seville's most magnificent Baroque churches, constructed on the site of what was, at various points in history, a Roman courthouse, a Visigothic church, and a Mosque. It is an ideal example of the coming together of Seville's most significant cultures.

Ending at the Archivo de Indias, itself a UNESCO World Heritage Site, we'll consider the exterior of two of Seville's most emblematic structures—the Royal Alcázar and the Cathedral. Both of these impressive buildings represent Seville's pivotal turning point from Muslim territory to the Christian Reconquista. Please note that we do not tend to go inside these buildings on the tour, but we encourage you to visit independently afterwards. As our time together comes to a close, we will depart armed with a now solid understanding of the many layers of this magnificent city. As we take on our own independent exploration of these sites, as well as the rest of the city, we will feel prepared to make connections among Seville's various influences.

Does this tour include the Royal Alcázar and the Cathedral? 
Our tour will end near these two structures with an introduction to their significance within the context of the themes of the walk. You are encouraged to enter on your own following the tour.