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The following image was taken from the sliding door of our stateroom.
Today, the Viking Sky docked at Cádiz, Spain. We took a bus to explore Seville, Spain, about 120km away, and 90 minutes away. We spent very little time in Cádiz.
Tour – Seville On Your Own – Spend the day exploring Seville, the capital of Andalusia, at your leisure. According to legend, the city was founded by Hercules; it was called Hispalis under the Romans and Isbiliya by the Moors. Before the Guadalquivir River silted, funneling trade downstream toward Cádiz, Seville was a wealthy and bustling port. Lying along the riverbanks, modern-day Seville is an intoxicating blend of Moorish and Christian architecture and rich cultural traditions. Highlights include the Giralda, built as a minaret and today a cathedral bell tower, the Alcázar, built in 913 as a Moorish fortress, and more. If you wish, explore the cathedral’s vibrant and historic neighborhood of shops and cafés. After a couple of hours in the largest city in southern Spain, the city of Carmen, Don Juan and Figaro.
Even though the tour mentioned we were “on our own”, the “guide” for the day led us on a quick walk around the downtown area. The guide reminded us of the rich history of the Iberian Peninsula – first settled by the Romans, then the Visigoths, then the Moors in 711, and finally the Reconquista (reconquering by Christians) in the 12th and 13th Centuries. The first image is the Pabellón de Argentina, originally built for the Ibero-American Exposition of 1929, now serving as the Antonio Ruiz Soler Professional Dance Conservatory (Conservatorio Profesional de Danza de Sevilla “Antonio Ruiz Soler”). The second is the Torre del Oro (Tower of Gold), an iconic medieval military watchtower, and the third is the Monumento a la Inmaculada Concepción (Monument to the Immaculate Conception).
We walked by the Seville Cathedral (Catedral de Santa María de la Sede), the largest Gothic cathedral and one of the five largest churches in the world. Built on the site of a former mosque, it is the final resting place of Christopher Columbus. The Cathedral, together with the Royal Alcazar Palace, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site
The Puerta del León (Lion’s Gate), which serves as the main entrance to the Real Alcázar, a historic royal palace and one of the official residences of the Spanish royal family. We did not explore the grounds as there was a long line to enter, and time was limited. Seville was the economic center of Spain in the 14th-16th centuries, and the palace was filled with gold, art, and treasures. The castle was destroyed in 1734 along with many artistic works. Obviously, it has been rebuilt and today houses a variety of beautiful artistic pieces from its past glory.
We then walked through the city on our own, ending up at the Plaza de España, which was built for the 1929 Ibero-American Exposition. The building was designed by Aníbal González, blending Renaissance, Baroque, and Moorish revival styles. It is an active government office complex and a popular tourist attraction. It features regional museums, boating canals, and film locations for Lawrence of Arabia and the Star Wars franchise. A very impressive site.
Various images from the day. The first two images are of Puerta de Jerez square, which includes the Fuente de Híspalis (Híspalis Fountain). The third image is the Royal Tobacco Factory of Seville, which now serves as the rectorate for the University of Seville (we saw numerous students throughout the city). We walked through the Jardines de Murillo (gardens), which included the Christopher Columbus Monument (image 6) and the reflecting pool (image 7). While walking through the narrow streets, we stopped at a nut shop, sampled the offerings, and left with a couple of bags of tasty snacks. We had a quick lunch (images 4 and 9 below) before rejoining the tour and returning to the bus. A somewhat short but very worthwhile trip to Seville. It is just great to be in Spain.
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