"Seville," wrote Byron, "is a pleasant city, famous for oranges and women." And for its heat, he might perhaps have added, since
SEVILLA
's summers are intense and start early, in May. But the spirit, for all its nineteenth-century chauvinism, is about right. Sevilla has three important monuments and an illustrious history, but what it's essentially famous for is its own living self - the greatest city of the Spanish south, of Carmen, Don Juan and Figaro, and the archetype of Andalucian promise. This reputation for gaiety and brilliance, for theatricality and intensity of life, does seem deserved. It's expressed on a phenomenally grand scale at the city's two great festivals -
Semana Santa
(in the week before Easter) and the
Feria de Abril
(which starts two weeks after Easter Sunday and lasts a week). Either is worth considerable effort to get to. Sevilla is also Spain's second most important centre for
bullfighting
, after Madrid.
Arrival And Information :
Bisected by the Río Guadalquivir, Sevilla is fairly easy to find your way about (though hell if you're driving). The
old city
- where you'll want to spend most of your time - takes up the east bank. At its heart, side by side, stand the three great monuments: the
Giralda tower
, the
Cathedral
and the
Alcázar
, with the cramped alleyways of the
Barrio Santa Cruz
, the medieval Jewish quarter and now the heart of tourist life, extending east of them. North of here is the main shopping and commercial district, its most obvious landmarks the
Plaza Nueva
and
La Campana
, and the smart pedestrianized
c/Sierpes
which runs between them. From La Campana, c/Alfonso XII runs down towards the river by way of the
Museo de Bellas Artes
, second in importance in Spain only to the Prado in Madrid. Across the river is the earthier, traditionally working-class district of
Triana
, flanked to the south by the
Los Remedios barrio , the city's wealthier residential zone where the great April feria takes place. More Seville information...
CITY CENTER / SEVILLE The Hotel Becquer is magnificently located in the historical center of Seville, next to the Guadalquivir River, just 10 kilometers from San Pablo Airport.
HEART OF THE FINANCIAL AREA / SEVILLE Located in the heart of Seville, a short stroll from the historic Barrio de Santa Cruz, Plaza de Espan~a and the Parque de Mari'a Luisa, this newly built hotel also has easy access to the high-speed
Call toll free..
US and Canada: 1-800-780-5733
Europe: 00-800-11-20-11-40
Use discount code: 89865
