Seville wears its layers of history openly. Within a few minutes' walk in the old centre you can climb a tower built by the Almohads, stand over the tomb of Christopher Columbus, and wander a royal palace that Moorish, Christian and Renaissance builders all had a hand in. It is one of the richest historic quarters in Europe, and two monuments anchor it.
The Cathedral and the Giralda
Seville's cathedral is the largest Gothic church in the world, built on the site of the great mosque after the city was reconquered. Inside is the ornate tomb of Columbus, held aloft by four figures. The Giralda, its bell tower, was the mosque's minaret — and instead of stairs it has a series of gentle ramps, built so the muezzin could ride up on horseback. The climb is easy and the view over the rooftops is the best in the city.
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The Real Alcázar
Across the square, the Real Alcázar is the showstopper. Still used by the Spanish royal family, it is a dazzling mudéjar palace of tiled courtyards, carved stucco and coffered ceilings, surrounded by gardens of orange trees, fountains and palms. Fans of Game of Thrones will recognise it as the kingdom of Dorne. Like the cathedral, it gets very busy — book a timed ticket online and go early.
Getting there
Seville airport (SVQ) is about fifteen minutes from the centre, and the city is on the high-speed rail line, with AVE trains from Madrid in around two and a half hours into Santa Justa station. The monuments cluster in the old town, where the streets are narrow and largely pedestrian, so a private transfer to your hotel is the painless way to arrive. Book a Seville transfer or see our private transfers in Seville.
