Official UK partner to the Paradors, Pousadas, Pestana Hotels & Resorts,
Teritoria, and European Hotels Collection. Keytours International,
formerly Keytel International, your agent in the UK.
Seville is one of the largest and most lively cities in Andalusia. Renowned for its Moorish heritage, the city boasts both beautiful architecture, and fantastic cultural offerings, with many well-known Spanish traditions practiced here. This is a fantastic choice for those looking for a relaxing city break.
Seville’s historic centre is home to some of the most beautiful and important buildings in Spain. Thousands of tourists and locals flock to visit the many attractions the city has to offer such as the grand Catedral de Santa María de la Sede situated on the former site of the famous 12th century mosque. This incredible monument combines architecture from a number of periods including Moorish, Gothic, Renaissance, and Neo-Classical design. The building’s most striking feature is the Giralda Tower, a former minaret converted into the cathedral’s bell tower, which stands proudly forming part of Seville’s stunning skyline.
One of the main attractions is the Alcazar Palace. The palace is fantastic piece of Moorish architecture, famed as the place where Charles V married Isabella of Portugal. This beautiful Arab fortress was rebuilt by Peter the Cruel and today is one of Seville’s most popular and prestigious buildings, not to mention the spectacular gardens that surround it. Focused mainly around the two courtyards, the building exudes splendour, with water featuring prominently in its design.
Of course no trip to Seville is complete without enjoying at least one round of tapas! Andalusia is famous for its tapas with the small plates offering the perfect serving size to snack on whilst in the sunshine. Typical dishes from the region include Salmorejo (like gazpacho but thickened with bread) and Espinacas con Garbanzos, a light dish made with spinach and chickpeas, all of which can be enjoyed with a refreshing drink at any time of the day.
In addition to the beautiful buildings around the city, Seville is a great location to experience some of Spain’s most famous customs. Flamenco is still practiced by many in Seville, and to celebrate this passionate dance every two years the city hosts the Biennial Flamenco Festival where some of Spain’s best dancers meet to compete. The festival is held in September and is a must-see if you are visiting the area, you can check the Spanish Tourist Office website here for updates on the upcoming festival.
However, you cannot dance without music, and luckily, Seville equally cherishes the country’s rich history of guitar music. The Seville Guitar Festival is held each year in October featuring fantastic performances and interesting features on the history of the art.
We represent over 30 fantastic hotels in Seville and two of our favourites include Hotel Inglaterra in Plaza Nueva (near the Cathedral) and Las Casas de la Juderia, made up of 27 typical Sevillian houses and located in the maze of streets where many typical flamenco bars can be found. These hotels and many more are part of our European Hotel collection and you can discuss recommendations with our reservations team on 0207 199 6360.
We cannot forget to mention the fabulous Parador de Carmona, a converted medieval Moorish fortress located in the historic town just 30km from Seville. The hotel has a wonderful outdoor swimming pool which is open during the summer months and the Parador’s terrace enjoys fantastic panoramic views over the surrounding plains. This is an ideal, tranquil base perfecting for relaxing away from the busy city centre of Seville however is still easily accessible by public transport and by car.