Seville Tourist Information - Monuments in Seville

The historic center in Seville is the most significant site to go exploring ancient monuments and structures. They are not spread very far apart, so you can easily move from one site to the other.

• The Seville Cathedral:

The Cathedral is the largest Roman Catholic cathedral in the world as well as the 3rd largest Cathedral in any style. It is the most important structure in Seville. The construction of the Cathedral began in early 14th C and was completed in the 16th C. The interior- which makes up the longest nave in Spain- is grand and elaborate with its artistic decorations. Inside, 45 scenes in woodcarving are depicted, and most of the carvings and decorations are covered with gold. The Cathedral is an important reference point in the city’s historical and cultural legacy.

Address:
Avenida de la Constitucion,
41001 Seville
Tel.+34 954214971 / Fax+34 954228432

• The Bell Tower of Giralda: 

The most famous and the tallest structure in Seville. At 97.5 m, it was once the highest tower in the world. The view of Seville from the top more than compensates for the effort of climbing the heights. It’s most important attraction is the tomb of Christopher Columbus which is housed in here. It is made up of larger than life-sized statues of kings, representing the kingdoms of Aragon, Leon, Castile and Navarre, carrying the coffin of Columbus on their shoulders. The Cathedral and Giralda were declared national monument in 1928 and granted World Heritage status by UNESCO in 1987.

Address:
Calle Alemanes,
41001 Seville
Tel.+34 954214471 / Fax+34 954228432

This majestic palace is the part-time Residence of The Royal Family. It is the oldest Royal palace used in Europe. The construction of the Alcazar began in the 1181 by the Almohades and it continued for the next 500 years. Since then, it was occupied by several monarchs who made their own additions to the original structure. Today, it is a series of palaces with different styles and architectural elements. Thus, here you will get to see a mixture of Moorish, Mujedar, Baroque and Renaissance architecture. All the mixed styles have enhanced the beauty of the Alcazar making it a unique and valuable monument. The palace is also famous for its beautiful and picturesque gardens. In the interior of the palace, priceless ancient relics, tapestries and furniture are carefully preserved as the heritage of a long and prosperous history.

Address:
Patio de Banderas,s/n 41004 Seville(Seville)
Tel +34 954502324 / Fax +34 954502068

• Torre del Orro

This "Golden Tower" was built by the Almohades as a defense tower to stop invasions from the Sea. It was a part of the Alcazar Palace and was connected to the Alcazar by a wall. The tower was constructed in 1220, and is divided into three sections: the bottom which is dodecagonal, the middle portion is hexagonal, and the top is circular in shape which was added in the 18th Century. The tower gets its name from the golden tiles which once covered it in the past. Currently the tower houses a Naval Museum containing ancient maps, compasses, navigational instruments and several ancient documents.

Address:
Paseo de Cristobal Colon, s/n 41001 Seville (Seville)
Tel. +34 954222419 / Fax +34 954226159

• Plaza de Espana

Built for the Spanish- American exhibition, the Plaza de Espana is one of the most important landmarks in Seville. A vast semicircular complex with 200m diameter, featuring a tower at each ends, it makes for a spectacular picture. The palace is divided into many sections to show the different provinces of Spain Each province is separated by small cupboards designed to house a basic library on each province. In the centre of the plaza lies a stunning fountain.

Inside the building you can visit the spectacular patio with it’s two floors, arches and columns. It measures 200m in diameter and has an are of 14,000m2. Made in regional style (a mixture of Mudejar, gothic and renaissance styles). The materials used were brick and ceramics. There is a small stream around the square crossed by 4 bridges representing the 4 kingdoms which constitute the Spanish crown: Castile, Leon, Navarre and Aragon. You can go for a nice, quiet boat ride in the stream.

 These buildings are currently occupied by various public institutions, the civil service and the military.
If it looks familiar, that’s because it was the location for movies like Star Wars and  Lawrence of Arabia.

Another impressive feature of the area is la Plaza de America, also known as Plaza de las Palomas (Plaza of the Doves). It is a great area with fountains, ponds and gardens around three buildings that were built in historical style of this city: el mudejar del Pabellon Mudejar, museum of popular art and customs, the Royal gothic pavilion and the arts pavilion which is in keeping with a Renaissance style. The entire plaza is surrounded by picturesque palm trees and roses.