We will be in Seville (our first trip to Spain) for one week in April (the week after Easter), to visit our son who is studying. What are your favorite things to see or do in and around Seville? Would love "off the beaten path" ideas, especially. We love history and food...Any ideas for a day trip...maybe to Cadiz? Is renting a car to drive to the coast a good idea? Thanks for any tips or advice!
Posted by
69 posts
Laurie,
April in Seville will be wonderful. Walk the Barrio Santa Cruz. You will find old school tapas bars (Las Teresas and Las Columnas) and tapas bars with a more modern take (Vineria San Telmo and Tomate). Take in a flamenco show at the more formal House of Flamenco where you need tickets in advance or the more spontaneous La Carboneria, where the show only costs one drink.
Both were great in their own way. Go early in the morning to the Alcazar. Take a sunset walk to the Plaza de Espana near Mary Louisa Park. We thought the university area of Seville was beautiful. I am sure your son has a few favorites to surprise you with as well.
You might rent a car and drive the Ruta de Pueblos Blancos (Route of the White Villages) through the mountains up to Ronda, a magical little town, spend the night and drive back to Seville. This makes a beautiful trip.
Ed
Posted by
Vienna, Austria
5407 posts
I dream about Las Columnas! Certainly your son will have some ideas - my husband studied in Sevilla as a college student and he really got to know the area well. You definitely should visit Grenada, Ronda and Cordoba.
Posted by
Chicago
8096 posts
IMHO the best day trip from Seville is to Cordoba to visit the Mezquita; this was our most memorable sight in Spain on a recent trip and we included the Alhambra in that trip. The Alcazar in Seville is similar to the Alhambra and a must see. Get there early enough to get a tour of the royal apartments which we missed going in the afternoon rather than morning. Your son will undoubtedly have lots of other ideas. We stayed in Macarena and I enjoyed touring that church and their museum which contains their floats of Mary and Christ that figure in the big parade during holy week. You can see our visit to this church and to the Mezquita here: https://janettravels.wordpress.com/category/spain/
Posted by
LaGrange, Ga, USA
1178 posts
Suggest you check out Really Discover Sevilla tours. small and several different options. There groups are much smaller than the larger groups.,..you can even hear the guide!! And they can connect you with a fantastic flamenco show...I visited the city, took a tour, and then explored on my own...a fantastic city!
Posted by
896 posts
Sevilla is one charming secret after another, a beautiful place with terrific people. There are a lot of small churches about town that are not necessarily on anyone's list, but are very characteristic and beautifully decorated. They are usually open to visitors throughout the day.
I would recommend Córdoba as well for a day trip. Visit the Mezquita, have lunch in the old quarter. The Mezquita is a one-of-kind site, and given how close you'll be, it's really a must. It's literally history built upon history. Cordoba has an older feel than Sevilla, maybe a bit more authenticity. The garden in their Alcazar is very nice, but the castle itself can be skipped. Trains between are fast and frequent.
Some of the hill towns nearby (Zahara, Arcos, Rhonda) could be done by car, but not really by bus. They are all dramatically situated and full of history.
If you're into the history, I would recommend the book "Dogs of God" by James Reston. It's a fascinating history of this region during the reconquista, and really lent some perspective to the area. Enjoy!