A Southern Belle in Seville, Spain

                                                          A Southern Belle in Seville Spain

I would like for this blog to not be boring as most travel blogs are. They tell you the history and fill you full of details about where they have been and what they have seen and I will do that too but I hope to make it "fun" as well. My first days in Spain were spent in Madrid then I moved to Seville and finally settling in at Utera. Today I'm going to talk about Seville.

Seville is actually the capital of the province of Andalusia. It has a population of over seven hundred thousand. It is the only river port of Spain. It was founded by the Romans and fell to the Arabs in the year 712 A.D. under whose rule, it flourished and became the capital of the Almoravid dynasty.

Now your thinking Blah, Blah, Blah OK, an off-peak visit during winter visit can be exciting and entertaining. First the weather is wonderful this time of year as it can get very hot in the summer months. Also no crowds anywhere you go, which equals no waiting in line. So now back to boring. I feel like my readers need a mini history lesson.

 Seville was ruled by the Arabs until the middle of the 13th century and you can still see their influence everywhere in the city in the decorations on the walls of homes, in the courtyards where flowers and small fountains abound. 

The Cathedral of Seville is breath-taking, it is a gorgeous and massive structure. I loved this place and the really funny thing to me was in all of my time planning my move to Spain I never thought about Christopher Columbus and the significant role he played in the discovery of our country. However once I got there I was like I can't believe I never thought about this especially since I was born on Columbus day!

Back to the facts ! It is said that it was built primarily to show off the wealth and influence of Seville as a major trading center in the fifteenth century.  It is filled with history and shows a magnificent display of the artistic craftsmanship. In 1898, the Cathedral would add to its celebrity and fame when it became the final resting place of the remains of Christopher Columbus (1451-1506).

After the "discovery" of the Americas in 1492, Seville would assume unprecedented prominence. It would become a flourishing economic center because its port literally held the monopoly of trade and commerce with the outside world. Also, in the year 1519, it would be from the port of Seville that Ferdinand Magellan would set sail on his historic voyage around the world. Today Seville is famous for three prized World Heritage Sites: the Alcazar Fortress, the Cathedral de Seville and the General Archives of the Indies.

However, I found this very interesting.... The Cathedral of Seville, was not the original resting place of the famous explorer. Christopher Columbus, who died in 1506 at Valladolid, Spain, was actually buried in that small city. When it was learned that Christopher Columbus during his life-time, expressed the wish to be buried in the 'New World'  ( in Santo Domingo) his remains were shipped to the New World. But when war broke out between France and Spain and Santo Domingo was ceded to the French, the remains of Columbus were moved to the island of Cuba where they remained until 1898. They remained there until the U.S. went to war with Cuba, the Spaniards felt that Columbus was too important a figure in their history (don't you think that is funny?) to let his remains fall into American hands. So, in 1898, Columbus who, in his life time, had made four voyages to the Americas, made a fifth and final trip back to Spain, where his remains would be put to rest permanently in the Cathedral of Seville. His remains are housed in a magnificent sarcophagus borne by four figures each representing one of the four provinces that made Spain then Castillo, Aragon, Navarro and Leon. Christopher Columbus is one of the reasons why thousands of tourists flock to the Cathedral of Seville every year. It is a must see in Seville!

 Now the Giralda was built by the Arabs in the image of the minaret of the Mosque of Marrakesh, Morocco,(Which is on my bucket list) and was the work of the famous Arab architect, Ben Ahmad Baso. His work on the minaret was begun in 1184 and completed fourteen years later. It is one of the two remarkable landmarks of the Arabs still standing in Seville. The other one is the Alcazar Fortress and Palace, which was actually built by the Almohades and was known as the Al-Muwarak. You must not miss this if you ever get to Seville!

The Palace is well preserved and is still used as an official residence by the royal family of Spain. It has been the residence of Spanish royalty since the Middle Ages. It is also recognized as the oldest palace in Europe. The outer walls and portions of the interior are part of the original Moorish fortress. The stunning Hall of the Ambassadors, one of the main rooms used for public events and affairs of state, is also one of the areas remaining from the original palace, so the walls date from the 11th century. This is the room where Ferdinand and Isabella welcomed Columbus upon his return from his first voyage to the New World. When I walked through the gates it hit me that this was were the discovery of  the Americas really began.

Now last but not least one of my favorite places...The Plaza de España .... It is a massive semicircular structure located in the heart of Seville. There are several ornate footbridges that cross an artificial moat (you can even take a boat ride).The plaza is immediately southeast of the Universidad de Seville, between the Parque de Maria Luisa and the Guadalquivir River.  It was one of the main constructions and symbols of the Ibero-American Exposition World's Fair that took place in Seville in 1929. There is a series of 48 tiled alcoves or benches, each representing a Spanish province and four bridges, each one representing the four ancient kingdoms of Spain (Castile, Leon, Aragon and Navarra).  It appeared a mere 48 seconds of Episode II's Star Wars as Naboo. It is one of the most beautiful man made places I've ever seen. Second only to the Parthenon  in Greece.

I will say that spending Christmas in Spain is enchanting and something I won't ever forget.

 

A Southern Belle in Madrid, Spain

The Capital of Spain is Madrid and I can tell you it's vibrant, noisy and chaotic! It is also full of old European charm and friendly people. So where do I begin to tell you about this amazing city?

As my usual style I hit the ground running, jet lag didn't stop me at all! My first good look at Spain from the airplane had me fascinated! It truly is the land of the old Western movies. I did do some research and many of the old west movies were made here. I thought of New Mexico and West Texas when I looked over the landscape but I'm getting off track so back to beautiful Madrid. After a quick stop at the hotel to drop off my luggage my friend and I jumped on the metro to head to the city center for sight seeing.The best, and most old-fashioned way to see the city is by foot and after sitting on the plane for 7 hours I needed the walk.

My first stop was The Royal Palace and to say it was impressive would be an understatement. The massive, bright-white Royal Palace (Palacio Real) on the Plaza de Oriente in Madrid dates from 1734, when the 3,000-roomed royal residence was commissioned by Philip V. It was last called 'home' by the royal family in 1931 - the present king, Juan Carlos, lives in the more subdued Zarzuela Palace outside Madrid. Most of the rooms are now open to the public, and others are used for state business. Tours are run regularly, lasting about two hours, taking visitors to the reception room, apartments, armoury and the royal pharmacy. The grandiose state apartments are filled with art treasures, antiques and opulent Rococo decor that could even rival Versailles. This is what they say as I have never been to Versailles I must take their word on subject and can only say it's "Stunning".

Plaza Mayor Madrid's famous central arcaded square dates from 1619 and was built by Philip III, whose statue still stands in the centre of the cobbled expanse. In medieval times the Plaza de Arrabal, as it was then known, was the venue for numerous public spectacles, ranging from knights' tournaments and festivals to the burning of heretics at the stake. Today it remains a public gathering place, but the majority of people who congregate in the sidewalk cafes to sip sangria on summer nights are tourists, enjoying impromptu music performances and watching the passing parade. At Christmas time this place is filled with street vendors hocking their wares and enjoying the smell of chestnuts roasting over an open flame. I purchased some from a street vendor and they were warm and delicious. While you are strolling through you can enjoy watching the entertainment as that is as varied as the city itself. Mimes, musicians,and comedic acts all line the plaza.

The Times Square of Spain, Puerta del Sol is the official centre of Madrid and a must see, where visitors can take in such famous landmarks as the El Oso y El Madroño, a 20-ton statue of a bear eating fruits off a Madrono tree and a large equestrian statue of King Carlos III. I will freely confess that I liked the lighted sign of "Metropolis" and joked as I looked around for the man of steel. OK bad joke but still if you enjoy Superman then maybe getting your picture under the sign would be fun for you.

My good friend Pipar wanted to make sure I visited the museums for her. OK truthfully I about got museum-ed (not sure if that's a word) out on our trip to Italy! I must say I "KNOW" I saw all the museums in that country! I did take a stroll down "The Paseo del Arte (Art Walk)" it links the three art museums that make up Madrid's famous "Golden Triangle", namely Prado, Reina Sofía and Thyssen-Bornomisza, where the works of such Spanish masters as Picasso can be viewed. I will freely confess I did not enter one single museum. I did however take pictures for her and felt obliged to include this in my blog even though I'm still a little "burned out" it is one of the cities top attractions.