Hotel Casona de San Andres-Seville, Spain

Posted on May 23, 2012 by Karen

I located this hotel on www.Venere.com, a site which I use often when traveling in Europe. It was a 3 star hotel in the historical center, close to everything! It was a small hotel, located on a quiet piazza. There are a few restaurants and bars nearby, but I didn’t hear any street noise. My room for a single person cost only 45 euro per night and was a bargain. The front desk was constantly occupied and there was wifi. They also had a computer available for guests to use. Breakfast was not included, but I much prefer going out with the locals to see what they are eating!
I would definitely stay at this hotel again for the price, location, cleanliness, and character!

La Macarena, Seville, Spain

Posted on May 21, 2012 by Karen

Yes, there is a song and a dance made famous by Los del Rio’s, and it is in honor of this revered patron saint of matadors, Our Lady of Hope. This famous and sacred statue of the Virgin Mary is thought to date back to the 17th century. The statue has moveable arms and five crystal teardrops run down her beautiful face. She even has a wardrobe that changes based on the time of year and what religious ceremonies are happening. It is housed in the Basilica de la Macarena which was built in 1949.On Good Friday, La Macarena is led in a procession of mourning for her sons, by the fraternity of the Basilica de la Macarena. This procession lasts for 12 hours and has been going on for 400 years.
The largest remaining part of the Almohad city walls is located in the vicinity of the church. I walked to the church and had to wait until the gates opened for visitation. It is located on the North end of the city away from most of the other sites, yet it is worth the walk. The Basilica is free to enter and is opened for 9-1 and from 5-8. There is a treasury room beside the Basilica which costs 3 euro to enter.

Alcazar, Seville, Spain

Posted on May 18, 2012 by Karen

Alcazar, built in the 10th century as a palace for the governors of the local Moorish state, still functions as a royal palace today, and is the oldest in use in Europe. The core of the palace was redone in the 14th century by Muslim workmen for the Christian King Pedro I in 1334-1369.
You can visit several sections of the Alcazar which is mysterious and spectacular with its distinctive Islamic style designs and flourishes. The palace costs 8.50 euro to enter and is open until 7 p.m. I again went very late in the day (around 4) and found that the large tour groups had diminished which left it much more pleasant .
There are huge sprawling gardens that you could spend days exploring. I will let the photos speak for themselves on the wonders of this palace.

Tapas

Posted on May 17, 2012 by Karen

In Spain, a big part of the culture and cuisine are tapas. Tapas are small plates of appetizer size foods. You can make a meal off of these, and it is a great way to sample some of the local flavors. They can be hot or cold and range from olives, cheese, fried fishes, and skewer meats.
Because Spaniards eat so late, tapas can be a great way to bridge the gap. Try them in the plaza with a glass of wine, and watch the world go by!

The Cathedral of Spain

Posted on May 16, 2012 by Karen

Construction of the Seville Cathedral started in 1402, and was built over a Muslim mosque. It took 120 years to build and is the 3rd largest cathedral in the world behind St. Peter’s at the Vatican and St. Paul’s in London. It is the largest Gothic Cathedral in the world. It costs 8 euro to enter and when I went, it was late afternoon and there was no line for the tickets or to enter.
Inside the Cathedral is the tomb of Christopher Columbus. There are 4 kings who carry the tomb and they represent the regions of Castile, Aragon, Leon, and Navarre. Columbus was originally buried in Spain, then in Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic, then Cuba and finally when Cuba gained independence from Spain in 1900, he was taken home again to Seville. Columbus died in 1506, so he did quite a bit of traveling after his death!Admission to the church also admits you to the Giralda Bell Tower which you can climb. The bell tower was formerly a Moorish minaret from which the Muslims were called to prayer. It dates back to the 10th century, although the top of it was replaced due to damage by an earthquake. It became the church bell tower after the Reconquista. The bell tower is Seville’s most important land mark and no building can be built higher than the statue atop the tower.