Natalie and I arrived at our vacation rental in Seville’s Triana neighborhood mid-afternoon on Friday. We were both wiped out but decided to power through our sleepiness in an attempt to avoid jetlag.
So, we stowed our belongings, grabbed our crossbody bags and a jacket, and set off to explore. The very first day we learned that Spain is serious about siesta, and most stores and restaurants close, or partially close, between 2:30 and 4:30. We found one place to grab a bite right before the kitchen closed, and we kind of wished we had chosen somewhere else. Without going into details, I will just advise you to think twice before ordering croquettes de jamon!
And speaking of jamon, or ham to many of us, it is everywhere here. There are entire stores dedicated to ham, with huge displays of whole hocks with intact legs. And it appears prominently on most restaurant menus. But if you are not a big fan of ham, like Natalie, there are plenty of other items to choose from.
Seeing the city
On Saturday, our first full day in Seville, we caught a hop on/hop off tourist bus so we could get a good overview of the attractions and explore as we liked. I highly recommend this – it’s inexpensive and the bus, which has an open-air top level, runs from 9 am until 11 pm, so gives you great opportunities to explore interesting places at your own pace.
The first place we hopped off was near the university and Maria Louisa Park. After brunch at a lovely sidewalk café overlooking the palace of the Andalusian royal family, we set out to roam the city. The park is a must-see. It is absolutely beautiful and so peaceful even when full of people.
We wandered for a while, taking in the architecture and popping into shops that looked fun, then caught the bus and rode until we saw something else interesting. And there are plenty of sights to spark the imagination, including the La Cartuja Monastery, which dates back to the 15th century and is reportedly the site where Christopher Columbus spent several months finalizing the details of his famous voyage.
We got off the bus again in the El Centro neighborhood, finally found someplace to exchange dollars for euros, and set out to find Santa Maria de la Sede, Seville’s magnificent cathedral.
I could go on and on about this amazing edifice, but will limit my rambling to the basic info. The structure is the largest Gothic cathedral in the world and has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage site. The construction started in 1401 and was not complete until the early 1500s. And like many cathedrals in Spain, it was constructed on the site of a mosque.
After the cathedral, we headed back toward Triana, which is known for ceramic tiles and Flemenco. Crossing the Puente de Isabella II, the first stationary bridge in Seville, you get a fabulous view of the Guadalquivir River, which runs through Seville.
We spent several hours exploring the Triana neighborhood, shopping, enjoying empanadas, and sipping sangria before calling an early night. The next day we were headed for a new adventure…
Love following your adventures!