Seville hotels and accommodations, Spain

Santa Cruz and the Cathedral.
A distillation of all that is typically Andalusian, the neighborhood of Santa Cruz (the old Jewish Quarter), the Cathedral, the Giralda, the Archivo de Indias (Archive of the lndies) and the Alcázar, are must-see monuments of Seville. They offer pleasures for the five senses, representations of history and legend and insights into Andalusian culture and sensibility. Adorned with beautiful patios, multitudes of flowers and unbelievably narrow streets, the neighborhood of Santa Cruz stands in the middle of the historic centre of the city, protected by the walls of the Alcázar. Bordering the Jewish Quarter stands the Cathedral and related buildings, the most spectacular complex of monuments in the city.
Walking along the Avenida de la Constitución the first impressive site is the façade of the Parish Church of El Sagrario built in the 17th century by Zumárraga, Rojas and Vandelvira. Inside it contains marvelous Baroque altarpieces by Duque Cornejo and Pedro Roldán.
To one side of this building stands the main façade of the Cathedral. It was built on the location of the High Mosque of Seville, demolished in the 15th century, and for many centuries was the biggest religious monument in all of Christendom. It contains five naves of Gothic style with a large transept, site of the Main Chapel, a construction which boasts a magnificent altarpiece and a Plateresque Grill. The Cathedral was designed by Alonso Martinez, Simón de Colonia and Juan Gil de Ontañón. The works were finished off in 1506, with a Plateresque Royal Chapel in the temple's sanctuary, later used as the place of burial of Fernando Ill el Santo and his son, Alfonso X el Sabio. The city's patron saint, Virgen de los Reyes, presides over the altar. The Cathedral also houses the Chapel of the Virgen de la Antigua, a construction of important Colombian influences, the sepulchre of Christopher Columbus, a choir with spectacular Mudéjar stalls and exuberant Baroque organ boxes. The Cathedral Museum contains works by great painters, codexes and choir books, chasubles and ornaments and a sumptuous collection of gold work. Bordering the Cathedral are remnants of the old mosque, the Patio de Los Naranjos (Patio of the Orange Trees) and the Giralda, the city's most prominent monument. Built on a foundation of Roman stones carried from Itálica, it was continued in brick by the Almohades, who decorated the façades with sebka work and poly-lobed horseshoe windows. The tower, a later Christian work, is crowned with a spectacular Renaissance bell shaft. We recommend climbing to the top to contemplate the splendid view of the city from the Giralda, a monument to eternity.
Leaving the Cathedral through the Puerta de Palos the visitor sees the Square of the Virgen de los Reyes and on his left the façade of the 18th-century Palace of the Archbishop. Its colours (blood-red and ocher-yellow) are characteristic of Sevillian Baroque constructions. The Old Diputación, (Town Hall), a 17th century palace, presides over the Square of Triunfo. At the other end of the square stands the lndies Archives, built in times of Felipe II.
The Puerta del León (Lion's Door) provides access to the Alcázar (one of the oldest royal residences in Europe). This location has been occupied by a series of different buildings -a Roman acropolis, a Paleochristian Basilica, different Visigothic buildings, a Moorish castle, and the first Moorish Fortress of the 9th century. Pedro I built the Mudéjar palace, a mixture of Gothic elements with Mudéjar plaster and coffer work. Especially interesting are the Patio de la Montería (Hunting Patio), the Patio de las Doncellas (Maidens Patio), the Patio de las Muñecas (Dolls Patio) and the impressive Salón de Embajadores (Ambassador's Hall), with its huge golden cupola of the mid-15th century. Next to the Mudéjar palace stands the Palace of Carlos V, adjacent to the Jardines del Alcázar (gardens) of Moorish inspiration with Renaissance and Romantic elements.
The visitor exits the Alcázar into the Patio de Banderas (Patio of the Flags) with its spectacular view of the Cathedral and the Giralda, and then into the peaceful streets of the Barrio de Santa Cruz, an old Jewish neighborhood. From this point, Vida street leads to the Alley del Agua (Water), bordering the walls of the Alcázar. A large number of typical popular buildings line this street, protected by iron gates which open onto patios profusely decorated with flowers. The street leads into the Square of Santa Cruz, presided over by the Cross of the Cerrajería (locksmith's), which connects the neighborhood with the Murillo Gardens. Leaving this square along Santa Teresa street the traveller arrives at the Convent of San José, a 17th century building.
Continuing along the streets López de Rueda and Reinoso, the visitor finds himself in the Square of Los Venerables, location of the Hospital de los Venerables Sacerdotes, a large Baroque building founded in 1675 as an asylum for priests. It contains the frescoes painted by Valdés Leal and by his son. The Hospital de los Venerables is now used for art exhibitions.
Gloria street leads to the typical Square of Doña Elvira, and then to the Square of the Alianza, adjacent to the Alcázar walls. Further along, Gloria street connects with Mateos Gagos street, full of lively bars and taverns. The Giralda bar, for example, is located in an old Moorish bath-house and boosts an excellent tapas menu. Further along, on the other side of the street, is located the Parish Church of Santa Cruz, 17th century, which contains works by excellent artists. Opposite the church begins Guzmán el Bueno street which leads to the bay windows of the Pinelo House, site of the Academia de Bellas Artes (Academy of Fine Arts). The building contains two beautiful patios and rooms with Gothic, Mudéjar and Plateresque decoration. Further along, Abades street connects with Bomberg street, where Roman columns, remains of a temple dedicated to Mercury, lend the street the name of Mármoles (Marble).
Buses: 2 1, 22, 23, 25, 26, 30, 31, 33, 34, 40, 41, 42, C-3 and C4.

San Bartolomé, Pilatos, La Alfalfa.
The neighborhood begins at the extremely popular Puerta de la Carne (Meat Door), which is named after an old slaughterhouse situated there. It preserves the atmosphere of old, popular Seville, whose intricate network of streets has maintained Arab and Medieval buildings combined with palatial and religious constructions of the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries.
Beginning the visit along Mármoles street we come to the Parish Church of San Nicolás, 18th century, with a rococo interior and a number of altarpieces and sculptures by Pedro Roldán and Francisco Ruiz Gijón.
The square of Santa María La Blanca contains the 18th century façade of the Palace of Altamira. To one side, the Church of Santa María La Blanca, was built over the remains of an old synagogue. The interior was redecorated in the 17th century with some of the most creative Baroque plaster work anywhere in Seville, the work of the Borja brothers.
Archeros street leads to the Parish Church of San Bartolomé. Nearby, on Levíes street, stands the Palace of Mañara, the home of Miguel de Mañara, model for Don Juan Tenorio, famous character of world literature. It is an impressive Renaissance building with an interesting façade bearing fresco paintings which imitate brick surfaces. Continuing on to the Plaza de las Mercedarias and then along to the Vidrio street, the visitor reaches the Parish Church of San Esteban, Mudejar building of the late 14th century with interesting, early 15th-century Gothic doorways. Nearby stands the House of Pilatos, interesting for its blend of Gothic, Mudéjar, Italian Renaissance and classic elements.
From the square of Pilatos we recommend continuing along Aguilas street. On its left-hand side stands the Convent of Santa María de Jesús, Mudéjar style of the early 16th century. Continuing along Rodrigo Marín street, the visitor skirts the side of the Church of San Ildefonso, one of the few Neoclassical constructions of Seville, built in the 18th-century with an interesting main façade and two towers. Opposite stands the Convent of San Leandro whose orchards border with the gardens of the house of Pilatos. The church (17th century), contains magnificent altarpieces by Montañés and Jerónimo Hernández. The gate house of the convent sells exquisite egg yolks made by the nuns.
After a short walk along the Cabeza del Rey Don Pedro street, which contains numerous antique shops, the visitor reaches the Church of San lsidro, another example of 14th century Mudéjar art. Its main altarpiece contains the large painting, The Passing of San lsidro by Juan de Roelas. Exiting the church, along the Cristo de las Tres Caídas street (The Three Falls of Christ), the visitor enters the Square of Alfalfa, a lively spot of the historic centre with bars which are popular for their tapas (small portions of popular dishes).

Buses: Puerta de la Carne and surroundings: 1, 21, 32, 24, C-3 and C-4.

San Luis, Macarena and Feria.
This area is made up of a group of different neighborhoods with authentic Sevillian flavour. In by-gone days it was a neighbourhood renowned for its strong typical flavour. It is a popular part of town-we might call it a village inside the city. Its streets, such as the Calle de la Feria, where the Thursday flea-market is set up, being the oldest and full of people and tradition, it feels like a village within the city, preserving taverns and shops from previous decades.
Near Alfalfa is the square of San Pedro, overlooked by the Church of San Pedro, Mudéjar building of the 14th century, with an 18th-century tower and doorway and an interesting collection of art works. The apse of the temple marks the beginning of Doña María Coronel street, location of the Convent of Santa Inés, founded in 1375. A turn-off to the left leads to the Palace of Las Dueñas. The building, decorated with a garden, is a mixture of styles, ranging from Gothic-Mudéjar to Renaissance and Baroque. Returning to the Doña María Coronel street, the traveller reaches an intersection with the Bustos Tavera street which leads into the Square of Los Terceros, a lively meeting area which contains the Rinconcillo, the oldest tapas bar in Seville. To one side, the Parish Church of Santa Catalina, a Gothic-Mudéjar building raised on the site of a former mosque, of which only the mirab and tower remains. Inside it contains a small sacramental chapel, one of the most interesting Baroque constructions of Leonardo de Figueroa
The Sol street begins at the Square of Los Terceros, on which stands the old Convent of Los Terceros, (current seat of the Hermandad de la Cena) built in the 17th century with an interesting façade of Latin American colonial style. From Sol, Enladrillada street leads to the Convent of Santa Paula. Its garden/orchard contains the most representative work of the Catholic Kings style in Seville: a Gothic-Mudéjar door, decorated with Renaissance tiles by Niculoso Pisano and Andrea della Robbia. The interior contains an altarpiece by Alonso Cano and sculptures by Montañés. It also contains a small convent museum, and the gate house sells marmalades and sweets.
The Santa Paula street leads to the Convent of Santa Isabel, founded in the 15th century, with a church designed by Alonso de Vandelvira in the 17th century. Inside the building contains the Cristo de la Misericordia (Merciful Christ) by Juan de Mesa. The nuns who live here produce golden embroidery, traditional handicraft of Seville. San Luis street contains the marvellous example of Baroque art which is the Church of San Luis, today no longer used as a church. On the other side of this great building, the street leads into the Church of Santa Marina, a 14th century building containing an interesting chapel covered with a Mudéjar vault of interlacing arches. In the Square of Pumarejo, following Fray Diego de Cádiz street, and attached to the inner perimeter of the walls, is the Church of San Hermenegildo.
According to tradition, this location was the site of the martyrdom of the Saint. It preserves a chapel on the site that previously held an Almohade door. Continuing along the ring road the traveller arrives at the Moorish fortifications, opposite the Hospital de la Sangre, the current seat of the Andalusian parliament and at one time the biggest hospital of Europe, designed by Martín de Gaínza. What today is the assembly hall was the church. The end of the wall connects to the Arch of Macarena, lending its name to the neighborhood. Next to it stands the Basilica of Macarena, building of recent construction, interesting for its Image of the Virgen de la Esperanza, a 17th century work and the most beloved of the Sevillians as well as the interesting museum which holds its furnishings. From here the visitors enters the heart of the Neighborhood of Macarena. He must take Parras street to Relator street and then continue on to Feria street, where we recommend visiting the market, the oldest and most popular of Seville. Leaning against this building is the Church of Omnium Sanctorum, erected in the 13th century. It tower displays sebka work copied from the Giralda. Following along Feria the traveller arrives at the Parish Church of San Juan de la Palma, also Gothic-Mudejar. Inside, it contains the group sculpture, Virgen de /a Amargura with San Juan, one of the landmarks of 18th century religious imagery.

Buses: Encarnación: 10, 11, 12, 15, 20, 24, 27, 32. Macarena: C-1, C-2, C-3, C-4, 2.- Feria: 13, 14.