sevill sightseeing

The cathedral and the Alcazar are clearly Seville’s most spectacular buildings but the city is graced with many other notable architectural masterpieces. Some are old, some are distinctive and all are worth a short piece of your time.Archives of the Indies.This is now housed in a dignified Renaissance building adjacent to the cathedral. You will not miss the building but may be uncertain as to its use. The archive includes drawings, documents, plans of South American towns and much more. The building dates from the 14th-century.City Hall.This stretches between Plaza Nueva and Plaza de San Francisco in the heart of the commercial district. The two facades are quite different. The original Diego de Riano building from the 16th-century can be seen on the Plaza de San Francisco while the other side shows a 19th-century plasteresque front.The Bullring.This deep ochre painted building was built in the 1760s and is still used today, mainly on Sundays. It is one of the oldest and prettiest bullrings in Spain. There is an adjacent museum with English-speaking guides which opens daily. The statue of the matador outside the building is a highlight.University of Seville.Since the 1950s the University has occupied the old Royal Tobacco Factory building on Calle San Fernando. The factory was built in the 1750s and is said to have employed some 3000 female cigar makers at its peak including the mythical Carmen in Bizet’s opera. You are welcome to wander around the lower floors and courtyards.Torre de Oro.The Tower of Gold is on the banks of the Guadalquiver River close to the city centre. The twelve-sided tower was built by the Moors in 1220 as part of the city’s protection system. It is believed a chain was stretched across the river from here to another tower on the opposite bank. It now houses a small navel museum.Hospital de los Venerables.This interesting Baroque building in Santa Cruz was once a retirement home for priests. It is now often used for art exhibitions and there is a 20-minute guided tour to show you the building’s highlights. The outstanding room is the chapel where there are frescos by Juan Leal and an imposing pipe organ. Other areas of interest are the azulejo patio and the upstairs gallery.Museum of Fine Arts.This excellent collection is housed in the former convent of La Merced Calzada in El Porvenir within walking distance of the city centre. Most of the building dates from the 17th-century while the art work, including works by Leal, El Greco and Murillo spans several centuries.

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