Wedding Dresses!
This post is for the girls.
One of my favorite things to do in Seville was walk down the cobblestone streets ogling all the wedding dresses in the shop windows. I don’t know why, but this town has a deluge of wedding dresses! Everywhere you look there are white, flowy gowns of every kind. My all-time favorite? See the picture to the right.
A particularly great area to scout dresses is the neighborhood northeast of Plaza Nueva. The shops are mostly small, tucked-away boutiques, so keep your eyes open!
FYI: Most of the dresses are incredibly pricey, so if you’re like me (probably not getting married any time soon), you might want to stay outside. You don’t look as strange daydreaming outside the store as you would within!
Plaza de Espana
Plaza de Espana. The Spanish Plaza. A breathtaking site located in the heart of Seville.
The plaza – really one giant building in a semi-circle shape – was built in 1929 to hold displays for an exhibition. Today, it holds offices of many governmental departments. It’s interesting to see people walking past grandious columns and colorful mosaics as they carry out their daily business.
The walls of the plaza are filled with beautiful artistic representations of the Spanish provinces. It could take hours to look at them all or just 30 minutes, depending on your interest.
You can walk freely through the plaza and the halls. The area is not heavily signed and there aren’t any pamphlets, so it’s a good idea to research the place before you go. If you feel like you’re at the wrong place, you’re probably not. When I went, no one seemed to be gaping at the awesome architecture or snapping photos. But, don’t be fooled, the Plaza de Espana is easily one of the most famous sites in Seville. It is not one to be missed.
Here is a map to the plaza.
Cristobal Colombo
It goes almost without saying that when in Seville, you must visit the Cathedral of Seville. And so, until now, I’ve avoided posting about this obvious site. However, I must write about an interesting component of the Cathedral that many visitors pass over – the tomb of Christopher Columbus.
First, a disclaimer: many people do not believe Columbus’ actual body – or at least not the entire thing - is contained within this coffin. In 1877, a box of bones with Columbus’ name on it was discovered in Cuba. DNA testing and research have not been able to determine which bones actually belong to the famous explorer. But most Sevillanos will tell you that this extravagant tomb is his final resting place, and many experts agree. Either way, it is a magnificent sight.
Surprisingly, the coffin is not displayed in a very obvious place. It’s located in one of the eastern-most sections of the church and could easily blend in with the rest of the cathedral’s elaborate ornamentation. Be sure to get an information pamphlet or ask an employee to point out the spot.
The experience of stading feet away from the famed Christopher Columbus moved me very much. He his a man whose name is known by the entire world; the Portugese proudly call him one of their countrymen, the Spanish boast their connections to him and the Americas remember him for his groundbreaking travels. Even cooler is the fact that he died more than 500 years ago. It was a shock to stumble upon the tomb of a man I’ve learned so much about, and I had difficulty fully comprehending it. I suggest doing some research on his life before you go to really appreciate the experience.
Information on the Seville Cathedral.
The best place for one-stop shopping
Imagine a Walmart combined with a Macy’s located on every other corner in Spain. Imagine El Corte Inglés.
As Spain’s largest department store chain, El Corte Inglés is a staple of the Spanish lifestyle. The store sells everything from designer scarves to Vitamin C. Some locations have entire grocery stores on the basement level.
So why am I writing about a giant department store? Because it easily one of the best ways to experience the true, contemporary Spanish culture.
Stepping in to a store, you’ll immediately be surrounded by Spaniards of all social classes and backgrounds. You can encounter the Spanish version of nearly any product. You’ll be exposed to the various aspects of Spanish fashion, food, technology and more. Plus, you can pick up whatever you forgot to pack!
The best part about El Corte Inglés is its classiness. Despite the throngs of people inside the store at all times, each location is sparkling clean with a plethora of helpful employees. Prices are a bit steep, but it’s worth the few extra euros. Plus, El Corte Inglés is bound to be the only store around, no matter where you are.
And in case you’re wondering, the name roughly translates to “The English Dress Style.”
Isla Magica
If you’re craving roller coasters, carousels, rides and shows, there’s only one place to go in Seville, and it’s called Isla Magica (Magic Island).
Isla Magica is like a scaled-down version of Disneyland. It’s just minutes from the center of Seville.
I never made it to Isla Magica while I was in Spain, but my friends did, and they loved it.
The park is broken up into sections, each based on an area like the Amazon, the Americas, etc. Attractions include boat rides, comedy shows, spinning barrels (similar to Disneyland’s teacups) and many large-scale rides.
Isla Magica is definitely the place to go if you’re looking for theme-park fun in Seville. It isn’t a very authentic Spanish experience, but it makes for a good break from flamenco clubs and tapas bars.
It’s located at Pabellon de Espana – Isla de la Cartuja, 41092, Sevilla. Adult ticket prices range from 28 euros for a full day in the summer to 18 euros for a half day in the winter. For information, call 902 16 17 16, or visit http://www.islamagica.es/.
Churros: A Seville Delicacy
If you’re looking for an authentic Spanish snack late at night, there’s only one place to go: the churro stand.
It has no real name – just a sign exclaiming “CHURROS” – but you’ll know it by the swarm of young people that surround it about 4 a.m.
Two employees race around in their little hut deep frying dough and serving it fresh to hungry customers. An order of churros gets you around five, and you can opt to buy chocolate for dipping, if you like. Prices are pretty cheap.
Unlike the Mexican version of churros, these are not coated in sugar or any other sweetener. Spanish churros are simply sticks of fried dough bent into a circular shape.
Personally, I’m not a huge churro fan, but the experience of eating such a classic Spanish food in the middle of the night with people from all around the world is fantastic. I shared a table one night with a guy from Argentina.
The stand is located on the northwest corner of El Paseo de Cristóbal Colón and La Calle de Los Reyes Católicos. See the map for help:
It’s open all throughout the night. And a headsup: the chocolate cup is large enough for four people to share, so don’t overbuy!
Can you say “Cruzcampo?”
Well you better learn how! It is surely the most popular beer in Andalusia (the southern Spanish state of which Seville is capital.)
Say it with me…. croose-camp-oh.
This is the drink of choice for Sevillanos. I have to admit I’ve never tried it (I’m not much of a beer drinker), but I did listen to a local explain why it’s the best beer in the world for nearly 10 minutes.
If you want to try it, go anywhere that sells alcohol. If you want to see where it’s made, head to the brewery, of course.
The Cruzcampo brewery is located at Avenida de la Cruz del Campo 3. They don’t offer tours, but you can walk around what is one of the oldest breweries in the country. Even better, you can visit the gift shop weekdays from 10am to 1pm. Or, if you really want to have fun, just tell the waiter at dinner, “Yo quiero una botella de Cruzcampo!”
Go to the “Cine”
Going to the movies in Seville is quite an experience. With assigned seating, good prices and Spanish-speaking characters, the “cine” (or cinema) is sure to provide a good time.
I recommend Cinesa – Plaza de Armas. It can be found on the second floor of the Plaza de Armas shopping center. The place is clean and orderly with great service.
Here are a few things you should know before heading to the theater:
- The doors open just minutes before the showing begins, so don’t arrive early. You’ll have to wait around outside.
- Seating is assigned, so buy tickets early if you’re worried about getting a good view. Also, make sure you and your friends purchase adjacent seats.
- Movies will be in Spanish, unless otherwise noted. It is Spain.
Now for the details. Tickets cost 5.70€ on weekdays and 6€ on weekends. Thursdays are called the “day of the couple” so tickets only cost 4.80€ then! For more info call 902 33 32 31.
Shopping on Sierpes
H&M. Zara. Mango. Bershka.
Just some of the stores you’ll find on Seville’s best shopping street - Calle Sierpes.
Sierpes is a quaint street in the heart of the city closed to cars. It’s just a few blocks long and packed with street performers, upscale stores and places to eat and drink. I found a cheap purse, a buffet dinner and my dream wedding dress all just steps from each other here. Even if you’re not looking to buy, Sierpes is a great place to walk around and get a feel for the city. The ideal time to go is after dinner; it’s when families, couples, locals and tourists alike come out for their nightly strolls.
A Free Museum!
Not many museums in Spain are free… except the Museo del Ayuntamiento de Sevilla! (a.k.a The City Hall Museum of Seville)
It’s small; you won’t need more than an hour, at the very most, to go through it. But there are some gems in this museum, which tracks 3,000 years of Sevillan history. You can see old photos of places you probably walked past to get to the site, plus ancient coins and royal treasures. The small, private atmosphere of the place is perfect if you’re tired of touristy joints.
The museum is set up in part of Seville’s city hall on the east side of Plaza Nueva. It’s open 365 days a year.
See more info here: www.sevilla.org
