An afternoon in Seville, Andalusia, Spain

The lavish, exotic gardens of the Real Alcázar in Seville

Seville, a city where history whispers from every street corner and the sun gilds its ornate façades, had long called to me. With eager anticipation, I was ready to immerse myself in a place where past and present entwine effortlessly, each vista promising a story waiting to be discovered.

I patiently waited for our river cruise to be completed. When I saw a huge bridge split in two and rise, halting the car traffic for our yacht to pass, I knew we had arrived. Never before had I embarked on such a stimulating voyage alongside History.

The verdant, graceful gardens of Parque de María Luisa in Seville

We anchored smoothly beside the Parque María Luisa Gardens and soon disembarked for a walk through the town, enveloped by its exotic flair: palm trees, a riot of colours, and old-fashioned carriages traversing tree-lined boulevards where Gothic architecture mingled with Moresque, Renaissance, and Baroque styles. Oh, what a celebration of myriad impressions flooded me!

The author contemplates the imposing grandeur of Plaza de España in Seville

Along Avenida de las Palmeras, parallel to the river, the grandest and most impressive pavilions of Latin America presented a microcosm of their countries’ architecture and culture, built for the Ibero-American Exposition of 1929 and now converted into museums, libraries, and consulates. The most celebrated is the pavilion at Plaza de España, a vast oval brick structure displaying each of Spain’s regions in exquisite ceramic alcoves and benches.

Leaving the boulevards, I entered the historic centre, with its narrow streets, old houses, and tapas bars whose lively atmosphere keeps Sevillians lingering until late at night. There is no other city in Europe with such vibrant nocturnal life, aided, of course, by its mild climate. Soon, I arrived at a Baroque square where the Seville Cathedral rose before me, breathtaking in its splendour.

The picturesque charm of Barrio de Santa Cruz in Seville

At last, my eyes could rest upon entering the Barrio Santa Cruz, just steps from the Cathedral — a labyrinth of narrow streets and alleys dating back to the old Judería, the Jewish Quarter. Scattered throughout were tiny, charming squares, some adorned with azulejos, others with orange trees, fountains, and beautifully tiled benches.

The splendid Mudéjar artistry of the Hall of Ambassadors in the Real Alcázar of Seville

In the past, these squares served as open-air theatres; at one, close to the Moorish city wall, stands the house where Don Juan was born. Two steps further lies the Alcázar, one of the most exquisite palaces in Spain, with its Mudéjar architecture, golden ceilings, and sumptuous decoration.

When the walk concluded, I wandered the alleys with such confidence that it felt as though, within a few hours, I could inhale Seville’s sunset as if it were our own.

Horse-drawn carriages traversing the majestic, tree-lined alleys of Parque de María Luisa in Seville

As twilight descended upon the city, casting a warm glow over its terracotta rooftops and winding streets, I felt that Seville had revealed not only its monuments but also its very soul. Every corner, every courtyard, every tile seemed to pulse with stories of centuries past, leaving me with the profound sense that in this city, history is not merely observed — it is lived, breathed, and celebrated.

My book ANDALUSIA, The Jewel of the Light, is published in Greek

Embark on a journey with my Books in English