Chapter 1 - The history of Andalusia
Chapter 2 - The history of Sevilla
Chapter 3 - The Sights of Sevilla
Chapter 4 - Events in Sevilla
Chapter 5 - Gourmet Suggestions
Chapter 6 - Tourist Information
Chapter 7 - Brotherhood of the Holy Charity
CHAPTER 1 - THE HISTORY OF ANDALUSIA
The origin of the civilization of the South of Spain
Since the first bronze age. in the third millennium BC, the land situated between two areas and continents was the preferred destination of different people and civilizations.
The ancient kingdom TARTESSOS was formed in the South of Spain in the 11th century BC under the influence of the Phoenicians and the Greek.
In this epoch, the oldest city in the west, Gadir(Cadiz), was founded.
Agriculture, livestock, as well as mining and the production of silver and bronze were the preferred activities by this culture of traders, the Tuditanids and Iberian people
In that time the Carthaginians also set up their own settlements in this region.
Journey of the Phoenecians
Tartessos Treasure
The Roman Empire
In the 3rd century BC ended the sovereignty of the Carthagenians. The Romans, after their victories in the Punic Wars, founded the province Bética and dominated this province during the next 700 years. Andalusia supplied the Roman Empire with food, olive oil, wine and metals. The philosopher Seneca and the two first emperors born outside of Rome came from Italica (nowadays the province Sevilla) Their names were Trajan and Hadrian. The first one gave his name to the famous quarter Triana in Sevilla. Starting the 3rd.century BC the Romans were more orientated to the East (Constantinople)
Roman Ruins
Epoch Visigoth
After the fall of the Roman Empire, the Vandals arrived. They came from the North of Germany. In contradiction with the later to come Muslims they were the first ones to set the base for the todays name Andalusia. They gave this region the name Vandalucía. The German hegemony however did not less for a long time. The Visigoths lead by their king Arlic III conquered the land of the Vandals and settled on the Iberian Peninsula. They held sway till the beginning of the 8th Century and experienced their heydays in the 6th and 7th century in the time of the bishops Leandro and Isodoro.
Visigoth Migration to Spain
Al Andalus and the Reconquest
At the beginning of the 8th Century the Arabs crossed the strait of Gibraltar and they conquered the Iberian Peninsula in a brief time. The independent Emirate of Al-Andalus and later the Caliphate of Cordoba were founded, and the dynasty of the Umayyad started and with this the Arab culture in Andalusia. Cordoba became the center of crucible of diverse cultures and religions. trade, science, craftmanship and art experience were booming in those days. From the year 1031, the Caliphate was divided in small Islamic Kingdoms. The Almoravids and the Almohad (Berber tribes) were in control of Al-Andalus until the 13th century. In the 13th century starts the reconquest of the country on the Moors by the Christians. After the reconquest of Cordoba (1236) and Sevilla (1248) the Muslim dynasty Nasrid still reigns for two and a half centuries in Granada. The last Moorish King, Boabdil, handed the keys of Granada to the Catholics, queen Isabel and King Fernando and thereafter takes his refuge in the Alpujarra’s.
Muslim Palace Alhambra Granada
El Andalus
Muslim Palece Alcazar Sevilla
Andalusia and Spain after the discovery of the Americas
The crisis in the 18th century begins with the Spanish Succession war. During this war England assaulted and conquered Gibraltar. The court of King Philip V, the first king of the dynasty of the bourbons was established for some years in Sevilla. In the middle of this century the first ideas of Enlightenment emerged, Cadiz lost its hegemony in the trade with the West Indies and Andalusia suffered the effects of the Napoleonic wars that effected the entire continent. The Spanish colonial empire crumbles as the struggle for the succession of the throne flares up again in the Carlist wars. In the middle of the 18th century a social revolt occurred and with it the liberal revolution. After two years of government of the First Republic, the monarchy was restored. At the end of the 19th century the peasants revolt took place and the uprising in Andalusia returned. The war with the United States of America puts an end to the colonial empire. The Spanish crown loses Cuba, Puerto Rico and the Philippines.
Sevilla 18th. century
Twentieth Century to our Days
In the first half of the 20th century Spain is still basically an agrarian country. During this time the country was involved in social revolts and internal conflicts. The dictatorship of Primo de Rivera was followed by the Second Republic. Where two world wars did not affect Primo de Rivera, he could not avoid a civil war (1936-1939) between the communists and socialists and the Nationalists lead by General Francisco Franco. After winning the civil war in 1939 Franco (El Generalissimo) took the power in Spain and reigned as a dictator till his death in 1975. Before his death Franco proclaimed Juan Carlos I as the King of Spain and after the death of Franco the democracy in Spain was restored. The new era offered many new possibilities for the Spanish regions. Andalusia obtains the rights of an autonomic region after a referendum held on February 28th, 1982. Social and economic the regions are booming in the sixties and seventies. In the southern regions particularly due to the big increase of tourism. The entry of Spain in the European Union also brings a lot of new perspectives especially in the field of Agriculture. In 2014, Felipe VI succeeds his father Juan Carlos I as king of Spain.
King Felipe VI
The Legends says that Sevilla was founded by Hercules. But according to historians, the Sevilla area flourished during The Tharsis reign.
The Phoenicians and Greeks maintained commercial relations with Tharsis. During the 8th century BC, their descendants created a city on the shores of the Guadalquivir and named it Ispal. Later to be called Hispalis and this became the origin of Sevilla.
From the 3rd century BC, the Carthaginians occupied the area, but they were defeated by the Roman, Scipio Africanus in 206 BC. From then on, Sevilla entered an age of splendour.
This was even truer when Julius Caesar gave Sevilla the status of colony in 45 BC.
The surprising fact is that, nowadays, there are only a few remains of this
flourishing roman period. During the Roman period, various invasions took place,
particularly Vandals and Visigoths.
The Visigoths dominated Sevilla during the 6th and 7th centuries.
This is whe Sevilla became the most important cultural area in the south of Europe.
A great figure in that time was the archbishop San Isidoro, who wrote Etymologies the encyclopedia gathering all the knowledge of those days.
The pilars of Hercules
Kingdom of the Visigoths
In 712 AC the domination of the Arabs started over Sevilla, they gave Sevilla the name Isbiliah.
The Betis River was also renamed in Guad El Kevir. Those two names are the origin of the current names of Sevilla and Guadalquivir River.
Under the Arab ruling, Sevilla entered another age of splendour. When the Almohades arrived in 1147, they transferred the centre of power from Cordoba to Sevilla and they made it their capital. From this last period of the Arab-Andalusian domination remain the Giralda, the Torre del Oro, the Alcazar (later rebuilt by the Christian kings) and the Macarena wall (Muralla de la Macarena).
Califat of Cordoba (el Andalus)
In 1248, Ferdinand III (Fernando el Santo), king of Castilla y Leon, conquered Sevilla for Christianity and became the patron saint of Sevilla. The Muslims were forced to leave whereas Mudejares and Hebrews stayed in Sevilla.
Sevilla was repopulated with 24.000 Castilians who grouped together in different neighbourhoods according to their occupations.
This led to the creation of Brotherhoods that still exist nowadays and to the attribution of patron saints for each of the Brotherhoods. (See Chapter 7 -" la Hermandad de Santa Caridad" Brotherhood of the Holy Charity),
A lot of churches were built to replace the mosques. Ferdinand III moved the palace of the Kingdom) to the Alcazar in Sevilla.
He stayed there until he died in 1252 and is considered as Sevilla´s patron saint.
Ferdinand III’s son, Alfonso X, continued his father’s work. He established a tolerant reign which enabled the Jewish, Arab and Christian’s knowledge to boom.
Under Peter I of Castile (1350-69), the city grew in an extraordinary way. The Alcazar was rebuilt and transformed in a beautiful "mudejar" palace.
The Giralda, a tower in the Spanish city of Sevilla, was built by the Almaden in 1184-1195 and was then the highest minaret in the world. The tower stands next to Sevilla Cathedral and the patio de los Naranjo's. During the Reconquista and the conquest of Sevilla by the Christians in 1248, the adjacent mosque was converted into a cathedral from 1401. The Giralda was integrated as a bell tower.
As in 1492 the conquest of Granada in marked the end of the Arabic domination of "El Andalus", the South of S the Sevilla became the headquarters of the Inquisition and Jews were expelled from Sevilla.
Cathedral La Giralda
The Alcazar
In 1492 Christopher Columbus discovered America. From then on, Sevilla experienced its apogee. After the
discovery the chamber of commerce was created to deal with the trade relations between Spain and the overseas territories.
the new American market as well as the monopoly of Sevilla in the trade relations brought great wealth.
Sevilla became the wealthiest city of Spain as well as the most cosmopolitan.
In the 16th century Sevilla was the capital of the world.
From Sevilla trading of among other things such as, spices, gold, and silver, took place with all other important countries in Europe.
As a result, Sevilla acquired a lot of wealth, fame, and culture in the 16th century,
When in 1519, Carlos I of Spain (Carlos V of Germany) became the emperor Spain became the most powerful nation in Europe.
Sevilla 16th Century
Christopher Columbus
The New World
In the 17th century territory of the city started to expand, and the population grew up to 150.000 inhabitants
in the first part of this century but during the century the decline started.
The riots of 1642, the Black Death of 1649, the drought of 1682 along with the floods of 1683 caused the exodus
of many inhabitants of Sevilla.
The exodus also was reinforced by the gradual weakening of the social and economic situation that aros in the
17th century,
After the plague epidemic in 1649 the population was divided by two.
In the year 1680 the Guadalquivir River from the ocean to Sevilla became inaccessible.
Consequently, the India fleet was moved to Cadiz, soon to be followed by the chamber of commerce and the Casa de Contratación(employment office)
In the 17th century Sevilla was a city of contrasts. On the one hand powerful, colorful, full of wealth and full ofn beautiful monuments, and on the other hand a city characterized by poverty and disease.
The 17th century also was the century of splendour and decadence, the sunrise and sunset as defined by Professor Dominguez Ortiz.
We are faced with a century divided into two parts, the heyday, and the change as the black death (Plague) appears. Gold and silver of the West-Indies made place for death.
Sevilla however kept its monopoly on tobacco trade and stayed the cultural center of Andalusia.
A huge plant was built for the processing of tobacco. (Nowadays, this plant houses Sevilla’s university.)
The 17th century led to the best works of art in the history of the Baroque and an artistic movement connected with the counter reformation.
Three famous painters were born in Seville at that time: Velazquez (1599), Murillo (1617) and Valdes Leal (1622).
All this offers Sevilla an artistic heritage unique in Europa.
Nevertheless, at the end of the 17th century Sevilla found itself in a demographic- and social- economic crisis, which took 2 centuries to restore.
After the Independence war and another plague epidemic in the 19th century, Seville experienced another period of prosperity under the reign of Queen Elisabeth.
She implemented urban reforms, particularly the construction of the Elisabeth II bridge (Puente Isabel II) in 1845 and the demolition of the city wall in 1869. This created the possibility for new roads and squares.
During the 20th century, Sevilla hosted two expositions that modified its landscapes.
In 1929, Sevilla welcomes the Latin-American exposition. Numerous houses representing various countries were built for this exposition and still exist nowadays, 63 years later in the area around Maria Luisa Park.
Sevilla also hosted another big exposition: The Universal Exposition 1992 (EXPO)
In the 21st Century Sevilla is the capital of the Spanish autonomous region of Andalusia, and of the province of Sevilla. It is the most important city of southern Spain in terms of culture, politics, economy, and art.
Sevilla is a tourist attraction in the following chapters we have written about the sights, the events and the food and drinks that make staying so pleasant.
In 2013, the city had 700,169 inhabitants, and in the Sevilla, agglomeration live 1,519,639 people. Sevilla is located on the Guadalquivir River, which is navigable for not too large seagoing vessels as far as
the city.
Sevilla has the largest historical center in Spain and one of the largest in Europe.
The Sevillian quarter of Triana is considered the birthplace of the Spanish dance and music
style flamenco.
The city is also known in Spain for the unofficial, but quite different dialect that is spoken there.
CITY LOGO
The symbol of the Municipality of Seville is NO8DO. You will encounter it in many places, on facades of buildings, flags and on the pavement. In fact, it says NO8DO, the 8 in the middle is a knot wool (in Spanish madeja) and so it says 'NO MADEJA DO', that is; no me ha dejado. The meaning is: 'she/he did not leave me', but it is not entirely clear where this text originally came from. There are several theories:
NO-DO was also used in other religious European cities in the Middle Ages. They are the first letters of Nomine Domine either translate as in the name of God. The 8 stands for 'nodus' (knot).
Welcome to the city of Sevilla.
As there are people much more specialistic in the historic heritage of Seville than we are, here under we hand you the official website of tourism of Sevilla.
It is very good and complete and does not only give you the information about monuments, museums, and the other interesting sights of Sevilla but also here you can find the events that are taking place in the city.
It shows you schedules, opening hours, phone numbers and everything else you need to know,
www.visitasevilla.es
To have a quick start we made a selection of our favourite places from this huge list How to find these places we advise to consult Google Maps.
CATHEDRAL OF SEVILLE AND GIRALDA
One of our most beautiful monuments in the city is the magnificent Cathedral of Sevilla. It is the third largest church in the world.
The Cathedral and Giralda Tower were originally built as a Mosque by the Muslims. After the conquest of Sevilla by the Catholic King Ferdinand III in November 1248 the Christians renovated the tower and added the highest part to the tower (the Bell Tower) The right part of the Giralda is where the Muslim Mosque was originally. situated.
The building and the renovating of the tower and old mosque to become the present-day Catholic Cathedral started in the 15th Century around the year 1401
THE ROYAL ALCAZAR
Another jewel of Sevilla is the Reyal Alcazar.
This palace was constructed for the Muslim Kings. After the reconquer of Sevilla by the Christians the palace was renovated and enlarged by the Christians. The Palace buildings are constructed in an incredibly beautiful park. Although it is situated in the Old Centre of Seville it is a nice and quiet place to have a walk and rest a little.
In the Summer Open Air Classic concerts are arranged in the park.
The present-day it is one of the palaces of the Spanish King. (We call it our small Alhambra)
SANTA CRUZ DISTRICT & HOSPITAL DE LOS VENERABLES
The Santa Cruz Area is just next to the Cathedral and Giralda. It is the old Jew district of Sevilla, and you will enjoy walking around there finding some authentic tapas bars. Inside in the Santa Cruz District you will also find the Hospital de los Venerables.
This old hospital is not used as a hospital anymore but now serves as a museum where constantly exhibitions are arranged of famous Spanish
painters.
PLAZA DE ESPAÑA & MARIA LUISA PARK
Plaza de España was the main and central square of the Ibero-American Expo celebrated in Sevilla in 1929. In front of the building between the two towers you will encounter some spectacular mosaic representing the provinces of Spain.
After visiting Plaza de España you can have a nice walk in the Maria Luisa Park which is opposite of the main square.
THE ROYAL TOBACCO FACTORY (UNIVERSITY OF SEVILLE)
The Royal Tobacco Factory (Real Fábrica de Tabacos) is an 18th-century stone building in Sevilla. Since the 1950s it has been the seat of the rectorate of the University of Sevilla.
Prior to that, it was, as its name indicates, a tobaccofactory: the most prominent such institution in Europe, and a lineal descendant of Europe's first tobacco factory, which was located nearby. It is one of the most notable and splendid examples of industrial architecture from the era of Spain's "Antiguo Régimen"
The scenery of this factory where one of the employees was named Carmen was the inspiration for George Bizet to write the opera Carmen.
THE GOLDEN TOWER
The Torre del Oro (golden tower) is one of Sevilla´s most famous monuments. You will find the tower depicted on many postcards and on souvenirs. Did you know that the Torre del Oro belonged to the old city walls and served in defence of the city and the Alcázar Palace?
During your visit to Sevilla you can hardly miss the tower. It stands on the left bank of the Guadalquivir River, opposite the bullfighter’s arena. Today it is 36 meters high and consists of three parts. The Torre del Oro takes its name from the fact that the second part used to seem gilded, and a golden sheen shined in the river. However, some relate the name to the gold stored in the tower at the time of the colonial trade with South America.
Maritime museum
The upper part of the tower, built in 1760 by the Spanish military engineer Sebastian van Borght (born in Brussels, Belgium), has been round and crowned with a spire tower. After a thorough restoration of the tower, it officially became the maritime museum (Museo Naval de Sevilla). The small museum exhibits various antique shipping instruments, ships models, historical recordings, and old Sea Maps. The museum was restored in 2005.
SANTA CARIDAD (THE MIGUEL MAÑARA LEGACY) ALSO READ CHAPTER 6
Santa Caridad(Holy Charity) is an interesting place to visit. The former hospital was founded in the 17th century by initiative of the in 1578 founded Brotherhood of Santa Caridad. In 1644 the Brotherhood decided to build a new church and a hospital on the foundations of the old chapel of St George in Triana. This hospital was specially built to provide medical care to the poor of Seville.
In those days Miguel Mañara lived in Seville (1627-1679). When his wife dies in 1661, this rich and powerful Sevillian completely changed his lifestyle. Where he lived before as today one would say a playboy, from that moment on he became a philanthropist. In 1662 he joined the Brotherhood of Santa Caridad and devotes his further life to charity and God. With his financial support the Church could be finished and was completed in 1770In the 17 remaining years of his life, Miguel Mañara has meant a great deal to the Brotherhood and the poor people of Seville.When he finally dies in 1679 to honour him, he was buried in the entrance of the Church of Santa Caridad where one still walks over his tombstone today when one goes into the church. The hospital is now a museum about the history of the Fraternity.
THE MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS
The museum of fine arts is the second gallery of Spain after the Prado Museum in Madrid.
It was constructed in September of 1835 but official inaugurated in 1841. It´s location is at the Plaza del Museo, in front of the museum in the square is a sculpture of Bartolomé Esteban Murillo. It is a fundamental museum to get acquainted with the Sevillian Baroque paintings. This style called ¨the school of Seville¨ has produced many great masters such as, Zurbarán, Murillo, Valdés Leal and finally Diego Velazquez. The museum as well gives a lot of attention to the19th century Andalusian painting. The building that currently houses the museum was originally built as a convent of La Merced, for the Order of La Merced Calzada de la Asunción, founded by San Pedro Nolasco during the reign of Fernando III.
TRIANA
Triana is a district in the western part of Sevilla named after the Roman emperor Trajanus
Triana is separated from Seville by an arm of the Guadalquivir that crosses city from north to south and is best known for its manufacturers of pottery and wall tiles but also for the sake of the bullfighters born there such as Juan Belmonte, Antonio Montes and Chicuelo (Manuel Jiménez Moreno) and the singers and dancers of flamenco. But Triana is also as far as we are concerned the authentic Sevilla with lots of tapa’s bars and restaurants and cosiness in the streets. Every August the Feria of Triana is held along the river.
Until1970,manygypsieslivedinTriana,but they were displaced under pressure from the Real estate market. To the north you will find IsIsla Mágica, a theme park close to the grounds where part of the World Exhibition Expo'92 was held.
One of Triana's eyecatchers is the Triana Tower.
The architect Francisco Javier Saenz de Oiza was inspired by Rome’s Angel Castle. In this building constructed in 1993 houses the administration of the Junta de Andalucía.
In Triana every week on Sunday morning a street market is organized on the Puerta de Triana on the banks of the Guadalquivir. Other places you must visit are the Fresh market, the Ceramics Museum, and the historical Museum under the fresh market.
Our advice to you is to cross the river once over the famous Triana bridge and experience authentic Sevilla.
METROPOL PARASOL (LAS SETAS)
Metropol Parasol is a wooden structure located at Plaza la Encarnación in the old quarter of Sevilla. It was designed by the German architect Jurgen Mayer and completed in April 2011. It has dimensions of 150 by 70 metres (490 by 230 ft) and an approximate height of 26 metres (85 ft) and claims to be the largest wooden structure in the world. Its appearance, location, delays and cost overruns in construction resulted in much public controversy. The building is popularly known as Las Setas de la Encarnación (Incarnation's mushrooms).
The structure consists of six parasols in the form of giant mushrooms ("Las setas" in Spanish), whose design is inspired by the vaults of the Cathedral of Sevilla and the Ficus Trees on the nearby Plaza de Cristo de Burgos. Metropol Parasol is organized in four levels. The underground level (Level 0) houses the Antiquarium where Roman and Moorish remains discovered on site are displayed in a museum. Level 1 (street level) is the Central Market. The roof of Level 1 is the surface of the open-air public plaza, shaded by the wooden parasols above and designed for public events. Levels 2 and 3 are the two stages of the panoramic terraces (including a restaurant), offering one of the best views of the city centre.
ITALICA
Itálica was founded by Scipio Africanis in 206 BC as the first Roman city on the Iberian Peninsula. She made a great bloom during imperial time. The downturn took place as early as the third century, presumably because the river guadalquivir shifted its course. Itálica is now an archaeological site, whose excavations began in 1781 Only a small part of the city has been clavated, including the amphitheatre, which could hold 25,000 spectators, the theatre, and some distinguished houses. Many mosaics have been uncovered, some of which are still in good condition. Further finds of Itálica are kept in the Museo Arqueológico in Seville and in the Palacio de la Condesa de Lebrija in the same city.
The ruins of Itálica were sung in the 16th century in the "Canción de las ruinas de Itálica" by Rodrigo Caro (1573 - 1647) with the initial words "The land O Fabio, which you see here, O smart, deserted fields, arid hill, was once the famous Itálica. The arid wasteland was an example of faded glory. Itálica was the birthplace of the Roman emperor Trajan and also of his successor Hadrian. The Triana district in Sevila is named after the first.
CHAPTER 4 - EVENTS IN SEVILLA
In this section of the website, we will publish some fixed events and if there are interesting events to be taken place, we will also post them here.
One of the most favourite fresh markets in Sevilla is the market In the old City Centre at the Calle Feria just outside the most touristic part. Inside the market you can find bars where they serve delicious tapas.
Specially the fresh fried fish from the market is absolute must.
We advise you not to buy the fish on Mondays starting Tuesday is better for getting fresh fish.
The opening hours vary widely but most of the days from Monday till Saturday it will open from 08:00 in the morning.
This cosy indoor market hall can be found, as the name suggests, in the Triana district.
The typical Spanish Mercado de Triana is in the heart of the district and adjacent to the Triana Bridge, the bridge is connecting the part of Sevilla where the City Centre is with the district Triana.
You will find on this market fancy delicious fresh fruit, artisan meats, a special beer you like to pick up a meal? It is all possible!
You will find a cute little restaurant where you can eat oysters and somewhere else you can watch a flamenco show. It is a versatile market that you must have seen when you visit Sevilla.
The Semana Santa in Sevilla is a period in which several Royal Brotherhoods solemnly penance and commemorate the Suffering of Christ during glorious penance processions.
These modelling processions take place in the whole city of Sevilla during the whole week before Easter.
The start of the holy week is on Palm Sunday.
The Feria de Abril or Feria de Sevilla is a spring festival that is held annually in the city of Seville (where the public gathers in a large enclosure called Real de la Feria.
Most women are dressed in traditional Andalusian dresses and the men mostly in neat costumes with tie (despite the usually very warm weather)
The Real de la Feria has streets with ephemeral huts, decorated with lanterns.
Through the streets riders parade on horseback in traditional costume, there are also many carriages moving through the streets of Seville and on the Feria grounds.
Every day the Feria is visited by aproxemily 500 000 visitors.
It takes place one or two weeks after the holy week and the opening is spectacular on a Sunday morning
at 00.00 hrs. Everything is dark and at that exact time the lights will be turned on one by on.
The Feria closes exactly a week later with an enormous Firework.
Together with the bulls in the Plaza de la Maestranza It has a great economic and social impact on the city and is declared a Festival of International Tourist Interest.
The festival of the nations is an annual event during September/October
At this festival, numerous countries of the world are represented to sell their delicacies
in their own pavilions and so createing the atmosphere of their country.
There is also a fair between the pavilions where all kinds of things are for sale from the represented countries.
We are sure that if you like it and visited it once, you will see that it is tempting to go there several times and try out a different kitchen each time.
The festival is held in the park between Prado San Sebatian and Plaza de España.
For the exact dates, we recommend that you consult the tourist information of Sevilla
King Willem Alexander of the Netherlands and his family. He is a regular visitor (incognito) of the Feria. He met his Queen on the Feria in 2000.
(The Festival of the Nations)
In this chapter we introduce you to our eating habits, explain our tapas and have some suggestions for good tapas bars to visit.
We start by telling you something about our smallest en most famous quantity of food you can order; TheTapa
The name tapa originated as an invocation of a quantity of food because in the past bars only served wines. As a gesture to the clients, they served the wine together with a small plate with an appetizer. They served the plate on top of the wine glass, so the wine glass was covered with this plate. The Spanish word for cover is tapa.
Some fine Tapa suggestions to order.
Jamon Ibérico (Iberian pork ham)
Caña de lomo (Iberian pork sirloin cured)
Queso (Old goat cheese)
Aceitunas (Olives)
Papas aliñadas (Potato salad)
Papas Bravas (deep fried potatoes with a very spicy sauce)
Puntillitas (Small calamars fried)
Boquerones (Small sardines fried)
Presa iberica (Iberian pork meat grilled)
Atún encebollado (Tuna cooked onion style)
Espinacas con garbanzos (Spinach cooked with chickpeas)
Ensalada de pimientos (Sweet Pepper salad)
Pulpo aliñado (Octopussy salad)
Salmorejo (Cold Tomato solid soup with iberian ham and egg).
Gazpacho- (Tomato and sweet pepper drink, only in the summer
Of course, we need a good drink with a good meal most of the tapas bars serve acceptable good wines such as;
Red Wines(Vino Tinto)
Rioja, a strong red wine.
Ribera del Duero, a smooth red wine.
You should taste both of them and pick your own favorit.
Also we can recommend to you red wines from the Sevilla area, thery are surprisely fruity.
White Wines (Vino Blanco)
We suggest you to taste a Rueda (half dry) or a Barbadillo (Wine from Cadiz based on Palomino grapes from that region)
Sweet Wines(Cream, Moscatel)
To accompany your desert we advise you to order a Solera 1847 or a Canasta (Sweet sherry wines)
Finally, when you are in Sevilla you cannot leave after you have tasted our great beer CRUZCAMPO, the favourite of the Sevillians.
To finish this chapter we made a selection of some of the best Tapas bars in Sevilla centre and Triana( next to the centre at the other side of the river.
The bars usually open at 12:00 pm till 16:00 pm and later the day at 20:00 pm till 00:30 pm.
The Spaniards have the habit to go out for tapas during lunch at 14:00 pm, and for diner around 21:00/22:00 pm
Las Teresas (City Centre)
Google Maps: Santa Teresa 2, Sevilla.
This incredibly old and authentic bar is at the heart of Barrio Santa Cruz. Santa Cruz Area was the place where the Jews lived during the Muslim occupancy of Spain.
This is one of our favourite bars in the city centre. Its more than one century old. In this bar you can sit directly at the bar in front of the waiter and order your tapas and beverages. There are also some tables and chairs outside where you can enjoy watching the people passing by while you are eating.
Although this bar is in the middle of the touristic area of Sevilla it’s not a bar only for tourists. Many locals especially neighbours of the Bar love to come to Las Teresas and enjoy their nice tapas and wines.
It’s a very curious on this bar where they cut the Iberian ham old style, directly with the leg on the table. There is a collection of old used knives at the wall behind the place where they cut the ham. For every knife there is a description in which period it was used.
In this bar they have one of the best Iberian hams in Sevilla.
Casa Cuesta (Triana)
Google Maps: Castilla 1, Sevilla
Another incredibly old and authentic bar is Casa Cuesta, located in the quarter Triana just 15 minutes walking from the city centre. It was founded in 1880 and kept the essence of those years. It´s just a few steps away from fresh market (Mercado de Triana) A good idea could be to visit first the fresh market of Triana and thereafter enjoy a delicious lunch in Casa Cuesta. Also, to enjoy a nice dinner is very charming there. In Casa Cuesta they have the bar area and beautiful dining rooms inside where you can organize special events with your friends or family. Outside they have a terrace that is heated if it gets a little cold in the winter months.
The food in Casa Cuesta is delicious. Their kitchen is in the traditional Andalusian style. You can enjoy delicious grilled meat, fresh fish and other seafood. The ham, cheeses and Iberico pork products are excellent as well as their wine assortment.
Casa Roman (City Centre)
Google Maps: Plaza de los Venerables nº 1. Sevilla
Casa Roman opened as a bar in 1934 as a bar but since 1868 this place started like a food store. This bar is right in the middle of Barrio Santa Cruz, in front of Hospital de los Venerables. This bar is frequently visited by Sevillian artists. You can stay. Inside there are comfortable tables, outside the tables are smaller but you can enjoy the view of Plaza de los Venerables and the blue of the sky of Sevilla (if the weather is good of course, but happily that is mostly the case)
The quality of the ham is really good on this bar. The Iberian meat and the fried fish are also good options. They serve a perfect” Carrillada Iberica”, Iberian cooked, incredibly soft meat. Another suggestion is to have a nice beer with “Pan con Tomate y Jamon”, home baked bread, toasted wit ham and tomato.
Beside the perfect wines they also serve a good Sangria.
Bodega Morales (City Centre)
Google Maps: García de Vinuesa 11. Sevilla
Nearby the Cathedral of Sevilla, you will find Bodega Morales. This bar opened in 1850 as a wine bar. In the second half of the 20th century, they also started to serve tapas. The ambiance of Bodega Morales is perfect and as in las Teresas you will find locals alongside the tourists in this bar. The weekends are very crowded because this area (El Arenal)) is the area where the Sevillians usually spend some time during the weekends.
This bar has two entrances one at Garcia de Vinuesa street and one on the right side. The best place to stay in this bar is in the back alongside the big old wine barrels. We advise you to try the ¨Mojama”, delicious dried salted tuna sprinkled with some olive oil it has an amazing taste. Another delicious dish is the “Queso Viejo en Aceite”, Old goat cheese marinated in olive oil. This bar serves particularly good red, white and pink wines and some cavas. Another option to drink can always be Sevilla’s Cruzcampo beer.
Bar Giralda (City Centre)
Google Maps: Mateo Gago 1. Sevilla
Bar Giralda opened in 1934. The bar was constructed in a former Arabic bath house. The architecture and deco of this bar is beautiful. The service is very, and the food has a high standard. The bar is more a restaurant of tapas and not the typical tapas bar where you usually stand at the bar; You can either sit on the terrace with the Giralda view observe the tourist walking by or sit inside, the walking of the tourist or also you can sit inside.
They have an exceptionally good assortment of tapas. Every day they receive fresh fish, shellfish, and clams (Pescado, marisco y almejas in Spanish). Ask the waiter for the fresh fish (Pescado fresco)
Highly recommended is to order a plate of small clams (Coquinas) This dish is a specialty from Huelva. Coquinas are cooked in white wine with herbs and garlic. You eat them with fresh bread and accompany them with a half dry wine, for instance a Rueda. This bar has an extensive menu.
Although Sevilla is one of the most beautiful cities in Andalusia and you can spend days and days in this city enjoying the sites we would like to give you some suggestions to visit some other places in a surrounding of about 150 km´s from Sevilla We shall give you the global direction for the trips but more detailed you can find everything in GoogleMaps.
The beautiful region of the white villages of Cadiz is divided in two areas, the Atlantic coast, and the Mountain range. A beautiful day trip by car is visiting Tarifa, Vejer de la Frontera and Conil de la Frontera.
This trip will take almost a whole day but is very worthwhile and will give you a good impression of the south of Spain at the Atlantic coast, Costa de la Luz. We suggest starting this trip in Tarifa and then head back to Seville along the coast passing the other villages. To go to Tarifa leave Sevilla on the highway E5 direction Cadiz and before reaching Cadiz stay on the E5 direction Chiclana de la Frontera, follow this road that will change in N340 to Tarifa.
On the southernmost tip of Spain (the narrowest point on the strait of Gibraltar) and less than 14 km away from North Africa (Morocco), is Tarifa, a bustling, lively place.
In good weather, you can see the 10th century Castillo de Gúzman el Bueno on the Rif Mountains in North Africa from the most famous monument in the city. This castle was originally built on an Alcazar (Moorish fortress) and served in defence of the raids from Africa and the North (Vikings). The castle has played an important role in Spanish history for centuries. Recently it has been restored.
Tarifa has been in the hands of the Moors for almost six centuries and you can clearly see that in the city.
Tarifa is the gateway to the beautiful Costa de la Luz, with miles of white unspoiled beaches. Because of the strong winds it is extremely popular by wind- and kite surfers. The coastline is just as popular with nature lovers and likes to come for the pristine scenery of the El Estrecho Nature Park.
In this park you will find the Mirador del Estrecho where on a clear day you can see the coast of Africa. It is also the place in Spain where you can spot dolphins/whales and see the birds' trek across the strait of Gibraltar from Africa to Europe.
Tarifa has managed to maintain its national quality. The old historic city exudes atmosphere with narrow streets and white houses. At night, the walled area turns into a network of bustling clubs and bars. Old and new are combined and is becoming more and more one of the hippest destinations in Andalusia!
Tarifa
a vieuw on Africa from Tarifa
Monument in Tarifa harbour
Ruins of Baelo Claudia
Heading back direction Sevilla from Tarifa you can drive to the beautiful beaches of Bolonia here you will also find the ruins of the old Roman city Baelo Claudia in the former province Italica.
The white beaches and high sand dunes of Bolonia are to be considered the most beautiful of the Costa de la Luz
Leaving Bolonia you can drive to Vejer de la Frontera a charming and beautiful village in the mountains just 8 kms from the seaside. On a clear day you can see Africa from Vejer de la Frontera. After a nice walk in the village enjoying the views, you head on to Conil de la Frontera. Arriving there it should be about lunch time. We can recommend for lunch the Restaurant el Mirador del Roqueo. Other options for lunch is driving to the beaches of Caños de Meca (about 20 minutes) and have your lunch in the Hotel Restaurant Breña or in the more economical restaurant el Caña.
If you like good meat from the retina cows from the grill we advise you to go to Asador el Antojo en Barbate. This restaurant is in front of Cape Trafalgar where the battle of Trafalgar between Admiral Nelson and the French/Spanish fleet took place in 1805.
Finally heading back to Sevilla, you can make a last stop if you wish and visit the beautiful Arcos de la Frontera and enjoy a coffee. If you prefer to stay all day at the seaside, we highly recommend you stay in Barbate and go to Hotel Sajorami Beach a lounge bar and hotel where concerts are given in the sunset. From Arcos de la Frontera we head back to Sevilla by the A5.
Conil de la Frontera
Cap Trafalgar
Arcos de la Frontera
Vejer de la Frontera
Restaurante el Mirador del Roqueo
A trip to this area of mountains with the highest peaks at Jabuga (675 mtr) and Cortegana (679 mtr) is more something to undertake in the period from autumn until spring. In these seasons the countryside looks at its best.
The trip will take you the biggest part of one day and it is best to start from Cortegana leaving Sevilla to Cortegena in the morning on the E803 to El Garoba and then follow your way to Cortegana on the N433.
Arrived in Cortegana is a castle from the medieval you can visit this castle. Cortegana Castle is a fortress of medieval origin built in this town by the people of Huelva in Andalusia
This defensive complex is the fruit of the reforms and extensions of the eliminations carried out between the thirteenth and sixteenth centuries.
After this you start on your way back to Sevilla passing, and if you like visiting the villages; Jabugo, Alajar, Aracena and Higuera. All these villages are mainly depending on tourism and Iberico Ham. Passing by you can enjoy the beautiful landscapes where the black Iberico pigs live.
In all the villages you will find some shops to buy Iberico pork products.
Next to Jabugo we get to Alajar, here the Spanish writer, humanist and advisor of King Felipe II, Benito Arias Montano (1527-1598) frequently came and did some climbing to relax his mind.
If you are in the mood, you can make one of these climbs from Alajar. If you reach the top of the mountain, you can see the ocean on a clear day.
From Alajar you follow your way to Aracena here you can visit some marvellous prehistoric caves (Gruta de las Maravillas) For lunch we recommend the Restaurant Casa Vicente in Alajar with great homemade dishes and of course the finest Iberian Ham from the region.
You can also drive through to Higuera de la Sierra already close to Sevilla and enjoy your lunch in restaurant La Colmena.
They serve good food against economic prices, After Higuera we head back for Sevilla and passed another great day
Miguel Mañara was born in Sevilla on March 3, 1627, as a member of a Corsican merchant family. His father Tomás Mañara, married to Doña Jerónima Anfriano Vicentelo, made his fortune in the trade and gained a prestigious position for his family.
Miguel Mañara received from an early age the typical education corresponding to his status as a nobleman, only ten yearsold he became a member of the Order of Calatrava.
At the age of thirteen after his older brothers had died, he became the sole heir to the family capital because of the rights of birth.
When his father dies in 1648, he married by proxy with Doña Jerónima Carrillo de Mendoza, she takes over all the duties of his father, provincial member of the Hermandad de Santa Caridad (Brotherhood of the Holy Charity), mayor of Sevilla and the management of the family business.
In 1661, after the death of his wife, Miguel Mañara got into a deep personal crisis that led him to question his lifestyle.
Until then, he had lived a life that we would describe in the present day as the life of a Playboy. In a short time, he began a process of true repentance and penance.
Miguel Mañara understood how transient earthly life was and decided to embrace religious life. As a hermit he retreated in the Sierra de Ronda in Málaga.
After several months of isolation, tempered by penance, he returned to Sevilla as a completely reborn and renewed man. He had a clear conscience because of the penance and was now ready to carry out God's work.
At that time, he discovered the quiet and humble work of the Brotherhood of Holy Charity and joined this Brotherhood.
As a brother of the Holy Charity, aware of the misery and difficulties of the poor in his city, he began to propose new ideas to help the displaced.
Although his ideas were shared by other brothers they could not be achieved by the lack of economic resources of the brotherhood.
A in 1663 Miguel was elected president of the Brotherhood, a post he would hold until his death, he made his entire wealth available to the Brotherhood of the Holy Charity.
Miguel Mañara was responsible for a huge boost regarding the works of the Brotherhood. He drew up a new regulation and became the re-founder of the Brotherhood of The Holy Charity.
Under his leadership, the church of San Jorge and the Holy Charity hospital were built.
In the holy charity hospital, the poor inhabitants of Seville received all the necessary medical care they needed.
Miguel Mañara died on May 9, 1679, and was buried in the entrance of the church of Saint Jorge in Seville, If you enter this church you walk over his tomb stone in which his last will has been engraved.
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