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Travel Photos...Seville
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This was my first visit to Seville and I found it to be a delightful city. My hotel was right at the heart of the Old Town, in the Plaza del Duque, and all the major attractions were within walking distance. The Alcazar in Seville was so impressive that I decided that it deserved a whole page to itself. Make sure you check it out.
The river in Seville has played a major role in Spanish history. The Kings had granted Seville the exclusive right to trade with the colonies in the New World. Although Seville is quite a long distance from the Mediterranean Sea, the old Spanish galleons would sail all the way up this river to deliver their precious cargoes from the Americas.

It was only in the 17th Century that the river became too silted for ocean-going vessels, and the exclusive rights to the colonial trade were then transferred to Cadiz, which is on the coast.
The next four photos are of the Cathedral in Seville. It is a huge edifice and construction started in the beginning of the 15th Century. The top of the Cathedral tower seen in the photo above is a Renaissance structure sitting atop a 12th Century Minaret. The tower is called The Giralda. You can climb right to the top terrace where there are great views of Seville below. Great cardio exercise!
The Plaza de Espana is a huge, semi-circular precinct which was built in 1928 for the Ibero-American Exposition of 1929. You can hire boats and row in the canal.

The massive building is adjacent to the Maria Luisa Park.
A couple are enjoying a ride around the Maria Luisa Park.
This large and beautiful park is filled with ponds and lakes. There are shaded paths, ideal for strolling, as well as roads bearing horse-drawn carriages.

I found that the Spaniards seem to take full advantage of the many parks in the cities I visited.
These ramparts and towers are the remnants of the old city walls.
This painting of the Garden of Eden, by the Flemish artist, Jan Breughel the Elder, is in the Fine Arts Museum in Seville.
This is one of several courtyards in the Fine Arts Museum. Its art collection is not too large, and it may not rank in the top layer of museums, but it is definitely worth a visit.
This tram line in Seville could well be one of the shortest in Europe, but if Spain recovers from its financial woes, there is a possibility that the line could be extended some time in the future.
This charming view of the rooftops of Seville was snapped from halfway up the Cathedral Tower.
This is Plaza Mayor. The quote below is from a website called "Inhabitat":

"Jurgen Mayer H. Architects goal with Metropol Parasol’s neutral tone was to help harmonize the stark contrast of the ultra-modern structure with the medieval surroundings of Seville. Stairways and storefronts sit below the wooden parasols, which form the largest wooden structure in the world. The innovative structure is made from bonded timber with a polyurethane coating.

"The actual site was originally slated to become a parking garage, but after excavations revealed archeological findings, the city of Seville decided to make the site a museum and community center. Metropol Parasol now houses said museum, a farmers market, an elevated plaza, and a restaurant, most of which are open-air. The elevated rooftop promenades located on top of the parasols, offer visitors amazing views of the city."

As I mentioned earlier, I decided to devote a separate page to the photos of the wonderful Alcazar of Seville. If you return to the Spain 2013 page, you will find the link to the Alcazar pix.
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