Enchanting Seville
Quick, where are you? At the outdoor Bar la Hosteria del Laurel,
edging the Plaza de los Venerables, as the midmorning snack
crowd is whiling away the hours between breakfast and lunch. On
the table: bread, jamon serrano (ham from the Sierra Mountains),
olives, and sherry wine. It is spring, and the scent of orange blossoms
suffuses your senses.
If you guessed Seville, the crown jewel in the diadem of southwestern
Spain, you deserve an evening of consuming tapas (perhaps at an
open-air terrace in Triana overlooking the Guadalquivir River),
followed by a performance of Flamenco dancing at Los Gallos
or El Arenal. Both are loved by tourists and natives alike.
And so is shopping for everything from antiques at an Alfalfa neighborhood
gallery to a guitar found at the Historic Center around La Campagna.
The area's best known shopping street, Sierpas, is nearby.
The center of Sevilla (pronounced "Se-vee-yah") lies
on the left-hand side of the Guadalquivir, the most famous areas
including Santa Cruz, San Bartolome, San Vicente, San Lorenzo, and
El Arenal. The great Cathedral, the Giralda and the
Alcazar are must-see monuments (the Cathedral houses the
sepulchre of Christopher Columbus, and the Giralda, the tower of
an important mosque, represents the city's Moorish occupation, A.D.
711-A.D. 1248).
A five-star treasure is the King Alfonso XIII
Hotel (34.954.222.850; www.hotel-alfonsoxiii.com),
but there are also some 3,500 rooms in three-star hotels as well
as paradores on Seville's outskirts. The climate is gentle, although
some travelers avoid the December to January humid cold and the
soaring temperatures in July and August. The most famous Holy
Week in Spain is Seville's. Another attraction is the April
Fair, when the Feria features horseback riding, bullfights,
carriages on parade, traditional dress, singing, dancing-and flowing
sherry in fairground tent stalls.
But no matter when you arrive, you're likely to find horse shows,
stage shows, golf, and people watching as you navigate the historic
center's narrow winding streets. Come prepared to be enchanted,
for Seville casts a mood, one of passion and loveliness.
The best way to get there? Fly to Madrid, then a one-hour flight
to Seville. Or take the high-speed AVE train from Madrid in two-and-a-half
hours. Or take motorway E-5 from Madrid. For information call the
Tourist Office of Spain (New York, Chicago, Los Angeles,
and Miami).
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Weather
January 42-60° F
February 44-63° F
March 48-69° F
April 52-74° F Pleasant
May 56-80° F Comfortable
June 63-89° F Warm
July 68-96° F Hottest month
August 68-65° F Hottest month
September 64-89° F Warm
October 57-78° F Pleasant
November 50-68° F Comfortable
December 44-60° F
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Contact Information
Tourist Office of Spain
666 Fifth Avenue
35th Floor
New York, NY 10103
Tel: (212) 265-8822
Fax: (212) 265-8864
www.okspain.org
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