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The beautiful city of Seville is the capital of Andalusia and is filled with a rich history, fantastic architecture, exciting festivals and bullfights. The flamenco music pours out onto the street as you stroll along the winding paths and enjoy window-shopping or touring its many sites.

Located in the center of the city youll find a massive Cathedral, one of the largest in the world. Originally, the site was used for a 12th century mosque but today sits as an impressive gothic and renaissance style Cathedral. It was begun in the early 1400s and completed in 1519. Youll find the Cathedral from miles away if you look up and see the Giralda. This bell tower stands at an impressive 90 meters and offers you a fantastic view of the city and the Guadalquivir River. Other areas of interest located here include the beautiful stained glass and Christopher Columbus tomb. Although theres some debate as to whether his actual remains are located here, the tomb is nevertheless well worth your time. As a side note, the four pallbearers that hold up the crypt represent the kingdoms of Spain in 1492, the time of Columbus famous voyage. The Alczar faces the impressive Cathedral and is another fantastic Seville landmark. Its the citys old Moorish Palace. Its construction began around the 1100s and took more than 500 years to complete. The palace showcases the fascinating stories of Spains history and is still used today as a royal palace. The beautiful garden that surrounds it is also worth exploring.

Dating back to 1220 AD, the Torre del Oro is a stunning building that holds a great collection of maritime artifacts. The added bonus of visiting this landmark is making your way to the top and enjoying a great view. Picture yourself studying economics, history or some other university course in a tobacco factory. If youre studying at the Universidad de Sevilla, its actually a reality. The Antigua Fabrica de Tabacos used to be the foundation of Sevilles economy but today serves as part of the universitys educational buildings.

As one of the most important archives in Spain, the Archivo de Indias is a huge collection of documents on Spains American empire, some of which date back to 1492. In fact, there are more than 80 million pages of documents that fill up 8 km of shelves could you imagine dusting all of that? If youre interested in exploring museums, make your way to the Museo de Bellas Artes, the Fine Arts Museum. It was established in 1835 and showcases a collection of works by El Greco, Murillo and Vales Leal. Youll also enjoy a wonderful display of silver, gold and ceramic pieces. For those that enjoy the art of dance, youll be amazed at the Flamenco culture that thrives in Seville. This sultry dance originated in Andalusia and has since become a Spanish icon. Your evenings can be spent watching the dancers perform or even trying it out for yourself.

To accommodate Expo 92, Seville decided on building the event site on a deserted island. The only problem was how to get from Seville to the island and the solution was to build a beautiful bridge. The Alamillo crosses over the Guadalquivir River and continues to be used today. Most European cities have public spaces that are perfect for a leisurely stroll or a cup of the local java and Seville is no exception. The Plaza de Espaa is one of the most beautiful spaces in all of Spain. Built in 1929 it houses a building in the shape of a crescent that has two towers as its book ends with a fountain at its center and a lake that runs alongside it. The Plaza is filled with both locals and tourists enjoying the lovely layout.

Shopping in Seville is a unique experience, especially when you stroll through the many markets that are located around the city. Enjoy some local specialties, like the sausages and cheeses, or go to the markets that sell jewelry, clothing and hand made crafts. The bustling markets give you a taste of what life is like as a local in Seville.

Relax at a caf, enjoy the delicious tapas or try out your dancing shoes. Although youll be walking throughout the city during the day as you explore Sevilles history, make sure you rest up for a lively night where sleep seems to be the last thing on anyones mind.