Seville Artistic And Financial Capital Of Andalucia

It is also an historical center as the two thousand years of its history have seen many groups of people settling in its land and influencing its development.

Seville has many Moorish characteristics that are evident in its historic buildings and city wall. The Moors controlled the city from 712 until it fell to Fernando III in 1248. From that time, many public buildings and churches were built and many of these can also still be seen today.

When visiting Seville, there are a few sites that are must-sees for any tourist. Begin by going to the city's cathedral which was built between 1401 and 1519. It contains the longest nave in the whole of Spain and is among the largest medieval and Gothic cathedrals that have been built. It was built where the city's mosque was situated and in fact, it used parts of the mosque in its building. You can see some columns and a minaret that were converted to be incorporated into the cathedral. It also features a large amount of gold and is extravagantly decorated. It is must see from an architectural and historic point of view.

The Alcazar faces the cathedral. It was developed from the city's Moorish palaces and sports beautiful gardens that bring together Moorish, Andalusian and Christian themes.

The Torre del Oro was a watchtower on the river and the Town Hall was built in the 16th century. There are also very many beautiful parks and gardens from different eras of the city's history.

There are two world renowned festivals in Seville each year, Holy Week (Semana Santa) and the April Fair (Feria de Abril) and if you are lucky enough to visit Seville during those times, you will see women wearing rich Flamenco dresses, large marquees and plenty of dancing and drinking. Seville boasts a gastronomically pleasing cuisine that is not to be passed over by tourists to the area. Its cuisine reflects its rich history and is therefore varied and exciting.

There is a range of visitor accommodation in Seville. Tourists to the area can elect to stay in a traditional hotel or in a more modern one. The city offers in the range of 20,000 sleeping options for tourists. They have hotels anywhere from one to five stars, hostels and any variety of guest houses. It should be mentioned here that although there is a huge variety of accommodation available, many of the cheaper Seville hotels are beginning, or have already, undergone renovations in order to upgrade them into more attractive hotels. This is naturally pushing up the prices of some of the previously inexpensive sleeping options.

Due to the attraction of the festivals in Seville, it is important to book hotels well in advance or you may find that you are stuck. In fact, even for weeks other than festival weeks, it is important to book in advance due to Seville's mild Mediterranean climate that makes the city an attraction all year round.

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