The cathedral was built to demonstrate Seville's wealth, as it had become a major trading center in the years after the Reconquista in 1248. In July 1401 it was decided to build a new temple, as the ancient Muslim mosque was in bad shape after a 1356 earthquake. According to the oral tradition of Seville, the decision of members of the chapter was: "Let a church so beautiful and so great that those who see it built will think we were mad". According to the minutes of that day, the new church should be: "a work such as good, which like no other." Construction began in 1402; it continued until 1506. Church workers gave half their salaries to pay for architects, builders and other expenses.

The Torre del Oro ("Gold Tower") is a dodecagonal military watchtower in Seville, southern Spain, built by the Berbers during the Almohad dynasty in order to control access to Seville via the Guadalquivir river.

Constructed in the first third of the 13th century, the tower served as a prison during the Middle Ages and as a secure enclosure for the protection of precious metals periodically brought by the fleet of the Indies, another possible origin for the tower's name.

The Alcazar Palace (los Reales Alcazares) is definitly one of the most impressive monuments of Seville. You should not miss it when visiting the city! It is a fortified palace of which the construction was ordered by Abd Al Ramn III in the year 913. The Alcazar palace is considered World Heritage by UNESCO.

Because of it's beauty it was chosen as residence by many monarchs in the centuries that followed. It now is the residence of His Royal Majesty Juan Carlos when he visits Seville. Pedro I, "the cruel" (1350 to 1369), made significant additions to the palace which is one of the most important examples of Mudejar architecture in Seville. The numerous rooms, patios and halls vary ...

The ring itself is considered one of the city's most enjoyable tourist attractions and is certainly one of the most visited. As a stage for bullfighting, it is considered one of the world's most challenging environments because of its history, characteristics, and viewing public, which is considered one of the most unforgiving in all of bullfighting fandom.

The construction of this building began in the 16th century to be used by traders for their commercial transactions. In 1785, the premises became the headquarters for the General Archives of the Indies when structural changes were made to accomodate the numerous files and documents. The archives of the Indies contain references to Spain and her foreign possesions between the 15th and 19th centuries.

The Maria Luisa Park in Seville transports you to a different world with its lush green landscapes. It is a pride of Seville, the financial capital of Spain and is a mark of the growing development that is touching the otherwise culturally rich city of Spain. The process of development started in the 1920’s according to which the southern end of the city was reserved mainly for Parks and Gardens and extensive boulevards. The Maria Luisa Park (Parque De Maria Luisa) is the crowning jewel among all the parks in Seville and enjoys the center of attraction.

The typical cuisine of Sevilla is like throughout Andalusia, light, healthy and always prepared with fresh Mediterranean ingredients. The use of olive oil for cooking in Andalusia has proven to decrease the possibility of heart diseases, improve the blood circulation and digestion and the oil as well is rich in vitamins (A, D, E, K).

Among some of the more classic Andalucian plates you can find in Sevilla are Gaspacho (mainly during the summer) a soup made by fresh blended vegetables (see recipe below).

The city of Italica (Spanish: Itálica; north of modern day Santiponce, 9 km NW of Seville, Spain) was founded in 206 BC by the Roman general Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus in order to settle Roman soldiers wounded in the Battle of Ilipa, where the Carthaginian army was defeated during the Second Punic War. The name Italica bound the colonia to their Italian origins.

The 2nd-century Venus of Italica, found in 1940 near the theatre (Museo Arqueológico, Seville)

Seville in Spring shines more than ever! The Holy Week (Easter), April's Fair, bullfighting at La Maestranza, the Sun flooding the city, the Azahar flowers blooming in the orange trees... We want to capture the best images of Seville during this season and we invite you to participate. During the spring post your photos on:

Facebook: facebook.com/hotelderbysevilla

or Twitter: twitter.com/hotelderbysev with the hashtag #fotosderby

We will choose the finalists and you will have the opportunity to choose the winner on Facebook. The winner will be awarded with a photo album including all the finalist pictures illustrating Seville, moreover the prize includes a 25% discount in your next stay with us. The more photos you submit the more chances you have to win!