2023-01-16 Sevilla
Seville is one of Spain’s most popular and vibrant cities. As the capital of the Andalusian region, it has a rich history and culture that are deeply intertwined with its beautiful architecture, delicious food, and captivating flamenco music. Seville is also home to some of the country’s most iconic landmarks including the stunning Alcázar Palace.
Beginning our private guided tour with Conception, we learned that this architecture is from the 1920s, at the time of the 1929 Expo.
The oranges in the city do not taste good so the city sells them to the highest bidder. This year it is a company that will use them for ethanol. A previous company processed them to make cosmetics.
This building is currently a home but the owner has sold it and next year it will become a hotel.
Plans for a much-needed parking ramp were disrupted by the discover of Roman ruins.
The new plan was for a mushroom. It may seem as though the crazies were in charge of planning but it has actually proven to be a tourist attraction as well as providing a gazebo for performances and a traditional market hall.
Sevilla is filled with stores selling Flamenco dresses and material for making custom dresses. We also saw several stores selling nothing but clothing for first communion.
The Giraldo Tower at the Cathedral.
Many aspects of the mosque survive in the cathedral. This is a postcard our guide showed us.
When you tip the postcard slightly the image changes to the Cathedral.
Building across from the Cathedral.
Entrance to the Royal Alcazar, residence of Spain’s rulers for a thousand years, originally the 10th century palace built for the governors of the local Moorish state. It still functions of the royal family’s home, the oldest in Europe that is still in use.
Altar piece painting, St. Mary of the Navigators. Christopher Columbus is believed to be the man under the left hand of the Virgin Mary.
Courtyard of the Maidens.
Ceiling of the throne room, original from the 1300s.
Ornate decorations on the walls.
Group shot with Conception.
Magnificent gardens
Kids loved the gardens, especially the maze.
The two of us visited the inside of the Cathedral on our own, It is enormous, the third largest church in Europe, finished in 1528 on the site of the earlier mosque.
Mausoleum of Christopher Columbus
Main altar of the Cathedral. Wonder where they got all that gold.
Flamenco dancers busking at the pavilion of the 1929 expo.
Picture of the pavilion of the 1929 Expo at Plaza de Espana.
Grandma and grandpa took Josie and Teddy for a carriage ride.
Travels of the Elderly 