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Birthplace of Flamenco, domain of the Bullfight and home of Carmen, Don Jaun and Figaro, the city of Seville and romance are inseparable. Legend has it that Hercules was Seville’s founding father and appropriately it is now one of the largest historical centres in Europe. The largest town in southern Spain, it has a reputation for being a joyous place, a fact upheld by the witty charm and geniality of the residents. Arriving in Seville one cannot help but be taken aback by the tremendous wealth of striking architecture to admire. Of particular interest is Barrio Santa Cruz. This maze of winding cobbled streets and plazas flanked by orange trees is very much in character with Seville`s romantic image. Here the piece de resistance is the cavernous Gothic Cathedral, one of the three largest in the world, along with St.Pauls in London and St. Peters in Rome. Inside it is even more breathtaking, an almost dizzying array of traditional Spanish religious structures and decorations gathered below an intricate canopy of lavish gothic vaulting. Close to the Cathederal’s south door stands the Tomb of Christopher Columbus, which is believed to hold the remains of the Spain’s greatest explorer. Built from a design by Arturao Melida in 1891 it features 4 pallbearers, each of which represents one of the Kingdoms of the Spanish Crown of 1492.

Almost as imposing as the Cathedral is its nearest neighbour, the towering Giralda, which stands as an impressive reminder of the splendid mosque that once stood on the site. Cross the Plaza del Triunfo and you’ll come across the mystical and elaborate Palace of Alcazar, one of the best surviving examples of Mudejar architecture, with its royal palaces and lush gardens of Pedro 1 and Carlos V. Also In Barrio Santa Cruz is the Archivo de Indias, which houses over 80 million pages of historic documents pertaining to Spain’s discovery and conquest of the New World.

With such a wealth of art, culture and history it is clear why Sellilanos are so fiercely proud and defensive of their traditions and nowhere is this more apparent than at the Bullfight. Despite numerous high profile campaigns to abolish Spain’s national sport, its popularity remains on the increase. There are over seventy bullrings in Andalusia alone and the most important, the Real Maestranza and Plaza de Toros, are both in Seville.