85 things to do in and around Sevilla
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- Take
a photo of the house where the painter Velázquez was born.
You'll find this hidden down a little alley between Plaza
Alfalfa and Plaza de San Pedro (Cristo de Burgos). It's
often overlooked only because it is hard to see from the
main streets. The house is now the business offices of the famous designers Victorio & Lucchino.
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Belly up to the bar at Cerveceria Internacional, the largest
beer selection in all of Seville. So large in
fact that you will need to read ten to fifteen pages of
the menu to decide what you want. For easier ordering
there is also a display on many of the bottles behind
the bar, plus several more popular choices on tap. Tapas
aren't the thing to try with your beer in the bar, but
I recommend ordering the alcaparras, or capers,
which are some of the best in Sevilla.
- In
the morning hours stop by the entrance of the Corral del
Conde, perhaps the most typical Andalusian patio you will
see. At one time this was a corral de vecinos,
where residents had simple living quarters but shared
large kitchens and bathrooms. Today there are mostly small
apartments. Many movies have been filmed here, when a
step back in time was needed as a backdrop. Do stop by
in the morning because in the afternoon the doors will
almost certainly be closed. You'll find the corral on
calle Santiago.
- Eat pescaito frito with a view of the old City Wall. With a prime location along the newly illuminated old city wall in the Macarena, there is no place quite like Freiduria La Pastora to enjoy freshly fried fish. With plenty of outdoor seating, you can order drinks at the bar and take a number once the fry stand starts up to order your fish! Inside you'll find cold tapas and plenty of shellfish. This is a recommended night activity, when the view of the city wall is at its best.
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Are you visiting Seville with that special someone? Perhaps
the one you plan to spend the rest of your life with?
Drag that someone down to the Ayuntamiento and
pass under the arch which joins Plaza San Francisco and
Plaza Nueva. Local legend says you will marry
the person with which you pass under the arch. If you
decide you've made a mistake then find yourself a broom
and sweep the feet of that person. An old saying in these
parts is if your feet are "swept" then you won't
marry.
- As
you walk through the city try to find a car - anywhere
- which doesn't have a scratch or dent on it. If
you rented a car you'll know why it is always recommended
to park in a garage! And while you look you may notice a few cars with their windows smashed. Use this as a reminder to never leave anything in your car should you park in the street.
- When
in the Plaza Nueva find the escudo, or
team crest of Real Betis Balompie in the ground.
There are several of these mosaic type stone sections
in the plaza, some with designs and others with something
more typical. You could look for the Sevilla team crest,
but why? And if you enjoy finding the team crest then walk to the end of Calle Sierpes and locate the other near La Campana (hint: look up)
- Rent a "city bike" from Sevici - get a day or week pass and try out Seville’s network of bicycle lanes which have become more and more popular with locals and visitors. You can consult the routes here (link), or just hop on and see how far it can take you. All of the rental machines have an English option which makes things easier if you don’t speak Spanish! Just make sure you select a bike in good condition.
- Visit the Jardines de las Delicias - located along the Avda de la Palmera, just across from Plaza America and the Parque Maria Luisa. For many years the gardens were practically abandoned, or at least hardly cared for. They were part of the grounds for the 1929 Expo and had fallen into a bad state. After a year of restoration work the gardens are back open and a little less crowded than the park. Plus you'll be only a few steps away from Seville's river port.
- Stroll along the river port. Seville has been working on restoring the city port, and things are already looking better. The large open space now houses a restaurant and bar with nice views of the Club Nautico on the other side of the river. Behind the port are the Jardines de las Delicias (see above), giving you a buffer from the avenue. And you can see the new aquarium which is being built which will hold Europe’s largest shark tank. On a nice sunny day you almost feel like your at the beach somewhere!
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