CAToday

This historic quarter of Seville has its own distinct character and identity. Across the river from the main tourist attractions of Seville, the neighborhood has the ambience of being a world apart.

The Real Maestranza de Caballería de Sevilla (Royal Bullring of Seville) is one of the finest bullrings in Spain, and with seating for around 12,500 spectators, it is also one of the largest.

Seville is famous for its flamenco, a flamboyant art form with roots in the Gypsy culture. Flamenco includes both dancing and singing, but most importantly, it is an expression of the soul. The best flamenco dancers have technical prowess, as well as a special gift of channeling the emotions.

The Semana Santa celebration in Seville is one of the most exciting festivals in Spain. Following centuries-old traditions, the Catholic brotherhoods (cofradías and hermandades) from different quarters of town participate in elaborate processions. Clad in penitents' garb, they carry ornately decorated floats that display statues of saints.

A short walk from the cathedral, the Iglesia Colegial del Divino Salvador is a stunningly beautiful Baroque church. Construction began in the late 17th century on the site where La Mezquita Aljama de Ibn Adabbás, Seville's old mosque once stood, and many additions have taken place since this time.

Seville has an exceptional Museum of Fine Arts, housed in the stately 17th-century Convento de la Merced Calzada. This museum is considered to have the best collection of paintings in Spain after the Prado in Madrid. The collection covers artworks from the Gothic period through the 20th century.

Found between the Catedral de Sevilla and the Real Alcázar, the Barrio de Santa Cruz is one of the most charming places to explore in Seville. It was the Judería (Jewish quarter) during the medieval era under Moorish rule, when many of the quarter's churches were originally synagogues.

The Parque de María Luisa, with the Plaza de España at its center, was the site of the Exposición Iberoamericana in 1929. This expansive green space was created for the Infanta María Luisa Fernanda de Borbón, who donated it to the city of Seville in 1893.

Inside the Parque de María Luisa, the Plaza de España dazzles visitors with its scale and grandeur. The enormous 50,000-square-meter plaza is surrounded by the balustraded balconies of a Neo-Moorish building, which curves around following the shape of the canal running through the square.

The Real Alcázar invites travelers to step into another world, an exotic place sure to inspire the imagination. Fascinating history and a breathtaking interior decor await visitors.

The Catedral de Sevilla makes an unforgettable impression. As the world's largest Gothic cathedral, this monument is unmatched in its impressive scale and abundance of art treasures. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this glorious place of worship was constructed between 1402 and 1506 on the site of the town's principal mosque.