Seville, Spain (Andalusia): 4-8 Hours
Seville is one of those cities that smells sexy. It isn’t the scent from the city’s 20,000 Azahar trees - it’s the scent of Agua de Sevilla permeating every corner of the atmosphere surrounding this lovely place. Orange, jasmine, sandalwood, tuberose and ylang-ylang waft around you like a torero’s cape. It’s intoxicating and it’s everywhere. First thing to do: Buy yourself some Agua de Seville to remember your visit forever.
The Alcazar: If you only have a few hours, your first and only stop should be the Alcázar of Seville. Wandering around this Moorish fort, royal palace and UNESCO World Heritage site is a gift to the senses of sight, sound and smell - you can squeeze taste in there as well if you make a stop at the Alcazar cafe, which is in the middle of the lush garden oasis. Strong espresso, sparkling water, full bar, manchego and jamon iberico on baguette, pastries…the cafe has everything you need.
You could spend all day at the Alcazar, and if you did, I would commend you. I wanted to move in. If you decide to catch a bit more of Seville, however, head to the river next.
River Walk, Tapas Stop: From the Alcazar, head toward Hotel Alfonso XIII. From there, walk along Av. Paseo de Cristina to Puente de S. Telmo, and cross the river. Once across the river, turn to your right and find the street path along the water. Many of the restaurants along the walk will be closed during the day, but at the next bridge, Puente de Isabel II, there is a river-side spot on the steps to the bridge called El Faro de Triana, where you can grab a table along the water and people watch. Here is the Yelp listing for El Faro de Triana. Once finished, cross the river on Puente de Isabel II, and head to Barrio Santa Cruz. You are on your way to completing a full circle.
Get Lost in Barrio Santa Cruz: Being lost in Seville is an unavoidable treat. Small twisting streets, hundreds of intimate green plazas, inconsistent street signs and a waterfall of historic architecture, chirping birds and perfumed air compete for your attention making it nothing short of orgasmic delight to find yourself utterly disoriented. The Barrio Santa Cruz is bounded by the Alcazar, the Jardines de Murillo, Santa Maria La Blanca, and Calle Mateas Gago. Many of the palaces have wrought iron gates that allow you to peep into their lush patios. There are many small stores, artisan shops, art galleries, and dance studios, as well as plaza and alley-way cafes.
Seville is a walking town and there isn’t a need for a car to get around locally. The metro, buses and trains are excellent. You can get a train from Seville to anywhere in Spain, and the train station is an easy and safe walk from Barrio Santa Cruz.
