Monday, October 10, 2011

The most famous monuments in Seville

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Hello hello!
I'm here again with a new destination for your holidays!
세비야 ^_^
는 스페인의 남서부에 위치한 도시로, 안달루시아 지방의 예술, 문화, 금융의 중심 도시이며 세비야 주의 주도이다. 과달키비르 강이 흐르는 평야지대에 자리잡고 있다.


Located in the south of Spain, Seville is well know to be the capital of Andalusia, there are many things to do in Seville, but my first advice is DO NOT VISIT SEVILLE IN THE SUMMER TIME! specially in AUGUST! It can be the hell! Estimated minimum temperature  is 44º  and 42º in the shadow. If after this warning you keep thinking about Seville as your destination, just  lets me show you the most popular places of the city ^^

The Cathedral of Seville and Giralda Tower
Surrounded by pedestrian streets in a traditional andalusian ambient, the cathedral of Seville is one of the sights you should visit in the city.
In the square next to the cathedral you can find many souvenir shops and carriages.. the cathedrals is one of the most beautiful  in southern Spain, and the biggest Gothic cathedral in the world. 
If you want to take great pictures with stunning views, are very recomendables the small windows at the corners or the cathedral and of course I recommend you to climb the Giralda tower, in that way you can see the wonderful panoramic view of the city
The Giralda tower is one of the highlights of Seville is probably the most visited monument of the city along with the cathedral, due that is always crowded..
The Giralda is one of the three remaining Almohad minarets in the world to become later on the bell tower of one of the largest churches in the world.

Fee of the Cathedral and Giralda Tower
    * Normal fee: 7,50 €.
    * With Student Card:  2 €.
    * Sundays: Free

The Royal Alcazar
Known as The Royal Alcazar, Seville's royal palace was originally a Moorish fort, built in the 10th century by the first Caliph of Andalucia. The construction of the current palace-fortress began in the 14th century.
Islamic, Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque elements can be found, but my favorite one is the Mudejar Palace, the best example of this architectural style in Spain. The gardens are perfect to walk around and enjoy the spring like weather of the city.

* For more info: The Royal Alcazar

The Torre del Oro
The Torre del Oro was built in the 13th century (1220-1221) during the reign of the Taifa Kings in Seville. The Moors were ruling Spain at the time.
Being part of the city's walls, its purpose was to protect Seville from the river side and to control the entrance of the harbor in the Guadalquivir River.
The tower served as a prison during the Middle Ages and as a secure enclosure for the protection of precious metals periodically brought by the fleet of the Indies, another possible origin for the tower's name.
The tower is divided into three levels, with the third and uppermost being circular in shape and added in 1760. This tower has a lesser-known half sister: the Torre de la Plata, an octagonal tower.

The Plaza de España
OThe exuberant and magnificent Plaza de Espana is located in the Maria Luisa Park and was built on the occasion of the Ibero-American Exposition World's Fair that took place in Seville in 1929.
This huge square, that needed as much as 1,000 people working simultaneously to build it, represents the embrace of Spain and its ancient colonies and it is orientated facing the Guadalquivir River as a path to America.
Don't miss the series of 48 tiled alcoves or benches, each representing a Spanish province, and pick your favorite one!

You should know that Plaza España has been a few times the background of some movies such Star Wars The Phantom Menace. Do you remember the scene where Anakin (Hayden Christensen) and Padme (Natalie Portman) crossed the elegant 'Venetian' bridge in the Naboo Planet.
Recently also was the background of the movie The dictator by Sacha Baron Cohen.

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