The Streets of Seville

             The Streets of Seville

One of the great joys of Seville is wandering the narrow, winding cobbled streets and coming across magnificent buildings…

The pink building on the left is one of our favorites... we walk by it nearly every day.

It's always a treat to see elegant steeples like these appear down the narrow slot of a street.

Plaza de Jesus de la Passion on a quiet day

Every time we pass this plaza (Plaza del Salvador) it's filled with people, mostly drinking beer. Love those twin steeples on Iglesia de la Paz (Church of Peace)!

Santa Catalina (I think...)

The massive Seville Cathedral (Cathedral of Saint Mary of the See), finished in 1506 and still one of the largest in the world. La Giralda, the bell tower, was the minaret built by the Moors 300 years earlier for their mosque.

Another view of La Giralda, from a rooftop garden.

The bridge to Triana, known for its fine tiles and, some say, the origin of Flamenco.

The 13th Century Torre de Oro, built to guard the river. In the background is a more modern tower, part of a 21st Century commercial center. We call it the Lipstick Building.

It's always fun to see La Giralda peeking out...

No matter how many times we've come around this corner, the sudden appearance of the cathedral in all its magnificence is always impressive!

The Alcazar of Seville, seat of power in Andalusia since at least the 7th C. These walls were built in the 14th C.; the current Spanish royal family still has a residence in the Alcazar.

             Mudejar Architecture

Mudejar  is a style of art and architecture that arose from the confluence of Moorish (Islamic) and Spanish (European) influences. The result can be seen in many buildings in Seville, and some are specifically designed to showcase this style.

The magnificent Pabellon Mudehjar (Mudejar Pavilion), built for the Ibero-American Exposition of 1929, incorporates many features of the Mudejar style. It now houses the Museum of Arts and Popular Customs of Seville   

A detail from the Pabellon Mudehjar. We see many of these same elements in the traditional buildings of Morocco.

Another of our favorite residence buildings near where we stay. The Mudejar influence is clear!

Another amazing building, this one more contemporary. The ground floor houses a wedding botique.

             Feria de Abril de Sevilla (Seville April Fair)

Originally a livestock fair started in 1846, this event is held annually two weeks after Easter. We’ve never been (indeed, many locals leave to avoid the noise and crowds), but its influence is easy to see in the city. There are any number of shops open all year selling the distinctive flounced polka dot dresses that are the typical costume for this week-long celebration.

This store, open year-round, specializes in both off-the-shelf Feria fashions, and materials for the seamstress.

Other stores offer more upscale Feria fashions, both contemporary and traditional...

...and of course, with your dress you will want to accessorize!

At last! After 4 years Paula completes her fantasy of trying on a Feria dress!

Our daughter Nina gives it a little shake...

And, just to be fair, the men are not ignored at Feria, although this is the only store I've seen with these clothes!

We'll close with this stunning interior of a Sevillano mansion, the Palacio de la Condesa de Lebrija (Palace of the Countess of Lebrija). Built in the 16th C., it was owned by a series of noble families, bought and remodeled by the Countess of Lebrija in 1901 as her residence and to house her extensive collection of art and antiquities; now a museum. This photo is of the entryway that grabbed us as we were walking down the street.

Entrance to the Palacio de la Condesa de Lebrija. Another example of the Meudejar influence, with Roman marble and showcasing classic tilework from Triana (across the river from Seville)

            

Another two weeks and we will be back in Montpellier. We may have one more blog from Seville...