Day 1: Things of beauty
Morning: Stay centrally and head out early to embrace the relaxed morning mood of the city as locals shop for bread and pastries.
Orientate yourself by heading to the Metropol Parasol, known as Las Setas – ‘the mushrooms’ – a modern landmark created mostly from wood in the middle of the old city at La Encarnacion Square.
Follow the gently rising walkway of this unique structure and gradually find yourself above the city’s rooftops with a 360-degree view, and the chance to view a cinematic introduction to the city.
Easy to spot from here are the Cathedral and La Giralda. A visit to Europe’s biggest Gothic cathedral can include a tour of the epic interior, a climb into the cathedral roof, or just an al fresco photoshoot of the exterior.
Afternoon: Stop for your first taste of tapas and a cold beer, and then spend a peaceful afternoon at the Alcazar – a vast and beautiful palace with unbelievable mosaics and intricate shady gardens (pre-purchasing tickets is highly recommended). If you want to take in a wider reach than your feet can manage, consider one of the horse and carriage tours which are plentiful.
Evening: The locals still love to dress up, especially on high days and Ferias (festivals) so find your spot, sit back and admire the style and excitement of local life. Women – young and old – get glammed up in bright body-hugging dresses with ruffles layered to the ankle while the men go for freshly laundered shirts, suits and ties. The dresses and Manila shawls take their lead from the nation’s famed flamenco dancing: when you’re done people-watching, head to a Flamenco Dinner Show to see the flamboyant fabrics come alive.
Day 2: Feast and float
Morning: Stroll alongside the Guadalquivir where the riverside views reveal how Seville mixes the ancient and the modern. Cross the water at the Puente de Isabel bridge for Triana, a neighbourhood renowned for its ceramics and tile shops. Here you will see ceramists working in store – browsers are welcome.
Afternoon: There are many riverside restaurants and cafes when you are ready to rest, but head to Mercado di Triana and you can gather your own fresh food picnic of stuffed olives, Iberian ham, Andalucian cheeses, and lush peaches.
Take your haul to the shade of Parque de María Luisa, which sits alongside the Plaza de Espana, it is an impressive square with a huge water feature, painted ceramics and an ornate pavilion that dates from the 1920s.
Evening: A tapas bar crawl is a lovely way to spend the evening with just a plate or two in each spot, but prepare for your evening out with a trip to AIRE Ancient Baths first. This oasis of tranquillity offers thermal baths of all temperatures. Follow this by Champagne and chocolates in the rooftop pool, overlooking the cathedral.
Revived and invigorated, tapas stops could include El Rinconcillo – the oldest bar in Sevilla or Cervecería Salmedina.
Book it
A three-night British Airways deal, with room-only accommodation and flights to Seville, costs from £189pp.
