7 Nights in Seville - From Cork

Seville Holidays

City breaks to Seville are a masterclass in architectural sightseeing, and the tapas scene is first class.

Big-name city

Seville is one of Spain’s big-hitters on the city break scene, and the numbers are there to back it up – it’s the third most visited place in the country, behind Barcelona and Madrid. The city’s set in the south-west, just over an hour’s drive from the coast. The centre’s pretty tight-knit, so it’s a great one for ticking off lots of sights without the step count getting out of control. There are three UNESCO-accredited bits to make a beeline for, which all have their roots set in centuries gone by. Seville Cathedral is one of the largest of its kind in the world, the Royal Alcazar is grandiose enough to a favourite of the King of Spain, and the General Archive of the Indies takes you through Spain’s history of exploring.

Architectural gem

Aside from its collection of UNESCO sites, there’s a hatful of have-to-see landmarks dotted around the city. Plaza de Espana is decorated vibrant Andalucian tiles, and was once used to shoot scenes from a Star Wars movie. The Torre del Oro – or Tower of Gold – is a 12th century structure on the banks of the Guadalquivir River, and in the Santa Cruz district you’ll find the city’s lesser-known palace, the Casa de Pilatos. It’s just as beautiful as the Alcazar, but flies under the radar a little more. At the modern end of the spectrum, the futuristic Setas de Seville look like giant wooden mushrooms, and have a panoramic elevated pathway where you can soak in views of the skyline.

Home of tapas

Lots of places claim to be the inventor of tapas, but more fingers seem to point to Seville than anywhere else. These famous small-plate dinners are the most common restaurant fodder in the city, with local delicacies cropping up on loads of menus. Hearty bowls of gazpacho soup, pork cheek bites known as carrillada, and fried croquetas with fillings like Serrano ham and creamy Manchego cheese. After you’ve polished off a few plates, follow the locals to one of the many flamenco bars – this style of dancing is a bit of a Seville signature.