Seville, Spain | Europe 2018 Part Two
Lyndsay and I arrived in Seville, Spain after what felt like the longest plane ride in history (we don’t recommend drinking heavily the night before getting on a plane haha!). After the constant go-go-go of the first part of our trip, we made it to our Airbnb… and promptly fell asleep for more than four hours. We woke up fully rested and just in time for dinner! I think what we were looking forward to the most about Seville was actually being able to relax and take some time to have a vacation. We felt a guilty about sleeping so long, but it was clear our bodies needed the rest.
Our trip length was 5 days, which felt like the perfect amount of time. It was enough time to fit in everything we wanted to do at a pace that more relaxed. Because the days all blended together, I’m not going to a break down day-by-day like in my Portugal post. Instead, I’m going to give highlights of the most enjoyable parts of our adventures!
Our Airbnb
The Airbnb we rented was perfect – it was central, so we were able to walk literally everywhere. The only Ubers we needed to take were to and from the airport. It felt like a more luxe hotel, with a kitchen for cooking our own meals. There were more things we could have squeezed in that were further away, but we didn’t want to feel rushed. The whole reason we picked a smaller city to visit was to take it slow! (and it leaves something to do for the next trip)
There was also a rooftop pool, where we inevitably lounged the hours away on a Sunday when we realized that nothing is open on Sundays in Seville. That gave us a bit of culture shock. We’re so used to everything being open all the time here in Canada, that it was surprising to find out that even the grocery store closes on Sundays! But it was so great to be able to soak up some sun and not have to worry about missing out on anything. The R&R was much appreciated!
Plaza de España
We stumbled through this square on our way to somewhere else and lingered for a while. The walls of the Plaza consist of many tiled alcoves, one for each of Spain’s provinces. We spent a while just wandering around admiring the architecture and tilework. Though we chose not to, you can rent little row boats and row around the moat. The gardens surrounding the Plaza were created when Seville hosted the Ibero-American Exposition World’s Fair, and it was so beautiful and refreshing to walk under the shade of the trees. There were many different kinds of birds flying around the various gardens and ponds as well!
Did you know this was a filming location in Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones?
Metropol Parasol
Located in the Old Quarter of Seville, “the Mushrooms” as they are often called, are the largest all-wood structure in the world. There are four different levels that you can visit, which include a small market and views over the city from the top levels.
Touring the White Villages: Zahara, Grazalema & Ronda
This was the one incredibly tourist-y thing we took part in while in Seville. We simply couldn’t pass up the opportunity to visit the beautiful villages in the Andalusian countryside, so we hopped onto a group tour bus for a ride several hours outside of Seville! Our first stop was the village of Zahara de la Sierra, which overlooks a valley and man-made dam. In order to access the town, you need to drive over the dam. The water was so incredibly blue, and it made such beautiful contrast to the white buildings.
Between Zahara and Grazalema, we stopped for a tour of one of the four oldest, traditional olive oil mills in Spain. Our guide informed us how the olives are harvested and pressed to produce the oil, and the difference between regular olive oil and extra-virgin olive oil. The tour concluded with an olive oil tasting with homemade bread. I think it was the most delicious thing I’d eaten all day!
We made a short stop in Grazalema for lunch. The drive around this area was absolutely stunning. Grazalema’s main export is cork, and it was so interesting to see the acres upon acres of the trees that cork is harvested from. I hadn’t realized the process of cork harvesting was done all by hand – no machinery is used at all! Cork harvesting is a long process. The first harvest of a cork tree happens once the tree is around 25 years old, and there is usually about 10 years in between each harvest from that point.
Our final stop was Ronda, famous for two reasons: Spain’s oldest bullfighting ring, and the Puente Nuevo – the bridge that spans the canyon. While I don’t agree with bullfighting, it was still interesting to see the place where the tradition began. We did a bit of hiking to get to the best viewpoint of the bridge (past the “risk of death” signs. Sorry mom!). The view of the countryside surrounding Ronda was just so breathtaking. I loved walking through the town and admiring the architecture!
Palacio de las Dueñas
I think this was my favourite part of our trip! Las Dueñas belongs to the House of Alba. The Duke of Alba opened it as a museum to wander through, and has since become one of the most visited places in Seville. Purchasing tickets first thing in the morning rewarded us with privacy – we had the whole place to ourselves for a little while! It had rained the night before, so the air was fresh and crisp and raindrops still glistened on the lemon trees. Wandering around through the old stables and the gardens was so peaceful.
Inside the courtyard is a small chapel, and a few indoor rooms that feature many historical artefacts. I purchased my only souvenir at Las Dueñas (and it wasn’t even for me, it was a gift for Colton!) I purchased a deck of cards from the gift shop that feature the art of a local artist. Funds from the gift shop go towards maintaining the house.
Alcázar of Seville (Reales Alcázares de Sevilla)
This is a location that may look familiar to you – it was the filming location for Dorne in Game of Thrones. If you’re going to visit the Alcázar, definitely book your tickets in advance! The first time we attempted to visit, the line was a mile long. Purchasing your ticket earlier is much easier and ensures you get into the “fast pass” line up! Lyndsay and I wandered around for pretty much the entire day. There’s so much to see, to the point where it was honestly exhausting! The amount of detail in the architecture can be so visually overwhelming at times, but it really is just so beautiful.
We stopped for lunch at a small cafe in the gardens before exploring them. There were birds aplenty here as well, including peacocks that attempt to snatch food off of your table and ducks that like to wander under your chair. After fuelling up, we continued through the gardens. There were many things to admire, like carved fountains, sections of exotic plants and small gazebos throughout the grounds. The weather was absolutely beautiful, and I loved walking through the gardens under the bright sun and tall palm trees.
Before we knew it, it was time to come back home! By that time we were rested and ready to go home to our loved ones and our pups.
What would I do if I went back?
- The Triana district: recommended to us by our local hosts, it’s one of the most lively and vibrant art districts. It would have required a little more travel to get there, which is why we didn’t visit this time.
- Flamenco shows: Spain in general is well known for flamenco, so I’d love to see a show the next time!
- The museums: there are many museums in the surrounding areas, but they involved a little more travel than we were able to do this time.
- Visiting during Semana Santa: Seville comes to a standstill during the Holy Week, where there are many parades, processions and festivals. People dress in the traditional robes and capirotes (pointed hats) for the parades. There was even a shop down the street from our Airbnb that is open all year round selling the the traditional outfits.
Read the first part of my Europe trip blog post (Lisbon, Portugal)
View the Instagram highlights from the trip!
