After feeling satiated with the chocolaté con churros and other delicacies in Madrid, we headed all the way down to Southern Spain, to the city of Seville in beautiful Andalucía region. People rave about this city and I didn't know why until we reached there. According to me, Seville is one of the most charming cities in the world. It didn't take me more than a couple of hours to fall in love with the city, almost like love at first sight! It is now easily among my top 3 favourite cities in the world :)
While in Seville, we stayed in the historic old town area which has the rustic look with ancient monuments, cathedrals, palaces, towers etc which give you a completely different experience compared to staying in the new town. The lovely Moorish architecture is definitely something to experience!
It's very easy to explore all major attractions in the town by foot and we loved walking through the narrow cobblestone streets and shopping on the way. One of my favourite places in Seville is Plaza de la Encarnacion. You can walk up the building in the centre of the plaza to get a 360 degree view of the entire city. It is breathtakingly beautiful and an experience not to be missed!!! I would easily rate this place as the MUST DO while in Seville. You get a free drink along with the ticket that you purchase to go up and you can enjoy a glass of Spanish wine soaking in the charm and beauty of the city. Go especially during sunset time and then wait up until it is dark to see the city in lights.
Another day was spent exploring the Cathedral, Giralda tower and the Alcazar Palace in the old town. The architecture of these buildings is simply stunning and you can stand there for hours admiring the beauty of it! While you are here, make sure you go restaurant hopping along the street by the cathedral, relishing Spanish tapas, Paellas and some local wine. They have outdoor seating and you get to enjoy a romantic dinner with the cathedral/tower view!
If you are in Spain, you would have heard of Flamenco dance. Did you know that it originated in Seville?! We made it a point to watch a traditional live Flamenco show here where it all originated!! It was truly an experience of a lifetime. The guitarist, singer, dancers everyone was extraordinary and I got goosebumps watching them perform with so much passion and energy. These shows get booked in advance, so make sure you purchase the tickets online and go early to grab a front seat..
The day we were leaving Seville we rented a car and we were so glad we did that 'coz there is no way you can drive around in the town in those narrow crowded streets and don't even expect to get a parking place! Even if you have a car, highly recommended that you leave it at the hotel and take a cab or walk around. You get to explore, enjoy and soak in so much more of this city by walk than by drive. Make sure you carry a map though while navigating as it is easy to get lost!
We had a few hours before heading out of Seville and Plaza de Espana popped out. Am glad we visited this place. It is one of the most beautiful plazas I have seen in all of Europe! The details inside are incredible and it also has a small river/ pond inside where you can go boating to see the plaza as well. Another must visit place in Seville!!
Last but not the least, if you are an adventure seeker/adrenaline junkie, then Seville has a dropzone nearby about 45mins from the city where you can skydive. We couldn't do it as the weather wasn't good during our stay but I would definitely go back here someday just to skydive to get a bird's eye view of this lovely, beautiful, charming city!!
