Spain for the Short of Attention Span Part 3 – Seville

You can read part 1 here and part 2 here.

Well. Seville. Seville is significant to me for being the only place I’ve ever been where someone put a ball of vanilla ice cream in my gazpacho. Because of this alone, I will always have a soft spot for Seville. However, this city has much more to offer than creative uses of dairy products.

Among other things, it is the home of the famous Figaro (the barber.)

There is a big impressive cathedral and a large lovely square. Actually, there are several large squares. In the day time, they are filled with women trying to give you sprigs of rosemary and in the evening they are filled with musicians. There is also a palace and a large park.

Things to see: All roads seem to lead to the cathedral, so you can go there. It’s a beautiful cathedral with a tower you can climb and get great views of the city. Columbus is buried there. We had, however, already been spoiled by the cathedral in Cordoba, so I’m afraid I wasn’t as impressed as I probably should have been. Context is everything, really.  Hanging out in the square behind the cathedral in the evening is good too, as the musicians who busk there are top notch.

Things to do: You should also go to a flamenco show. There are loads to choose from. There’s even a flamenco museum, if that’s your thing.

Places to wander: Around the cathedral and the Barrio Santa Cruz were very pretty areas.

Food to eat: Gazpacho

One of the cleverest things I’ve seen in a while: Restaurants where the outdoor eating areas were kept cool by very fine mist.

Things to buy: Authentic flamenco stuff.  (Yes, you can buy the flamenco dress aprons anywhere in Spain.  That isn’t what I’m talking about.)  Castanets!

Thing you will resolve to learn when you get home: How to play flamenco guitar.

If you are there on a Saturday you can play: Spot the bride.  We saw nine.

Should you go?  Oh yes.