The city of Seville
- Learning Spanish in Seville
Seville is located in the south-east of Spain. A provincial capital, seat of the government and parliament of the Comunidad Autónoma de Andalucía (Regional Government), it has more than 700,000 inhabitants, nearly half the population of the whole province. The city of Seville is located on the plain of the Guadalquivir river which crosses the city from north to south. The river can be navigated from Seville all the way to its outlet near Sanlúcar de Barrameda, on the Atlantic coast. In the past, the port of Seville played an important role in commerce between Spain and the Americas, and remains today one of the most active river ports of the Iberian peninsula.
The Tartessians were the original founders of Hispalis. Next to this settlement, in 207 B.C., the Romans built Itálica. It was the centre of their Western Mediterranean dominions for seven centuries until the Roman empire was overrun by Northern barbarians at the beginning of the 10th century. The long Moorish occupation of the Iberian peninsula, from 711 A.D. to 1248 A.D., left indelible traces in Seville as in all of Al-Andalus. La Giralda, the tower of an important mosque, is the most well-known of the remaining Islamic monuments. In 1492 Seville played an important role in the discovery and conquest of America. The 17th century was a period of artistic splendour in Seville. Painters such as Velázquez, Murillo and Valdés Leal, and sculptors like Martínez Montañés were born in Seville and left behind important works. The city also assumed an important role in world literature and was the birthplace of the myth of Don Juan. On two occasions in the 20th century Seville has been in the spotlight of the world's attention. In 1929, it hosted the Latin American Exhibition, which left important urban improvements in the city. More recently, Expo 92 reinforced the image of Seville as a modern and dynamic city.
Puente de la Barqueta
The cathedraL and La Giralda
Dont's miss out on the tapas. The city is credited with their invention and has more than a thousand bars where the choice of food is virtually unlimited, from seafood to ham and sausage, from vegetables to cheese. The Sevillians actually make a meal out of this variety by moving from bar to bar and trying one dish at a time.
Fiestas and celebrations in Seville
In 'Semana Santa' (March - April) there is movement of people throughout the region. The 'Cofradías' (Fraternities) and thousands of Sevillians process in penitence through the streets of the city. During the whole week, sanctuaries are visited and the people attend the different masses. A public and multitudinous catechism is performed in the streets around the sacred images of the brotherhoods, whose 'pasos' (floats) represent the distinct stages of the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ.
'La Feria de abril' as indicated takes place in April. Just after 'Semana Santa' , the Sevillians start preparing this fair. There are thousands of individual 'casetas' (tents) competing to obtain a prize for the nicest tent. Decorated with lanterns, paper flowers, light bulbs, photographs, bars, paintings, mirror, lamps and other decorations. It is an unforgettable sight if you manage to get involved!
