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Seville car
hire
Remember hire cars in spain offers the very best
car hire at Seville Airport and the
surrounding area.
According to legend, Sevilla was founded by Hercules
and its origins are linked with the Tartessian
civilisation. It was called Hispalis under the Romans
and Isbiliya with the Moors. Its high point in its
history was following the discovery of
America.
Sevilla lies on the banks of the Guadalquivir and is
one of the largest historical centres in Europe, it
has the minaret of La Giralda, the cathedral
(one of the largest in Christendom), and the
Alcázar Palace. Part of its treasure include
Casa de Pilatos, the Town Hall, Archive of the Indies
(where the historical records of the American
continent are kept), the Fine Arts Museum (the second
largest picture gallery in Spain), plus convents,
parish churches and palaces.
It has hosted two international exhibitions (1929 and
1992) and is the administrative capital of
Andalucía. The quarter of Triana on the other
side of the river, La Macarena, Santa Cruz and San
Bartolomé, the street of Las Sierpes, plus La
Maestranza bullring, María Luisa park
and the riverside walks are all representative images
of Sevilla.
For all its important monuments and fascinating
history, Sevilla is universally famous for being a
joyous town. While the Sevillians are known for their
wit and sparkle, the city itself is striking for its
vitality. It is the largest town in Southern Spain,
the city of Carmen, Don Juan and Figaro.
The Sevillians are great actors and put on an
extraordinary performance at their annual
Fería de Abril, a week-long party of
drink, food and dance which takes place day and night
in more than a thousand especially mounted tents. But
above all it allows the men to parade on their fine
horses and the women to dance in brilliantly coloured
gypsy dresses.
Immediately before that is Holy Week, Semana
Santa, a religious festival where hooded
penitents march In long processions followed by huge
baroque floats on which sit Images of the Virgin or
Christ, surrounded by cheerful crowds. Both Spring
events are well worth experiencing.
In Sevilla, you will want to visit the old city, with
the Cathedral and the Giralda tower at
its heart. (You can climb the steps inside the tower
for a magnificent view of the City). Very close by
are the royal Mudéjar palace known as the
Alcazar with marvellous gardens and the
Santa Cruz quarter, with cramped streets,
flowered balconies, richly decorated facades, hidden
patios... Other sights not to be missed are, in the
old city, the Casa de Pilatos, a large
sixteenth-century mansion where Mudejar, Gothic and
Renaissance styles blend harmoniously amidst
exuberant patios and gardens and, crossing the
Triana bridge over the large
Guadalquívir River, the lively popular
quarter of Triana with charming narrow streets
around the church of Santa Ana and traditional
ceramic factories.
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