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.”
