Teresa Machan gets her dancing shoes on and explores Seville, the colourful capital of Spain’s Andalucia region
With its eight provinces scattered across mountain, coast and interior, Andalucia is perfect for visitors in search of culture with their sunshine.
The region offers colourful fiestas, traditions like bullfighting and flamenco, excellent cuisine, spas, magnificent architecture and some of Spain’s most unsung beaches.
According to Spanish Tourist Office director Ignacio Vasallo over three million Britons – 19% of UK arrivals to Spain – visit Andalucía every year.
Ted Wake, sales and marketing director at Kirker, which has just added a five-night Andalucian countryside break to its latest Escapes collection, said: “Andalucia offers all the components a discerning holidaymaker needs. And the character properties in the countryside twin very well with the culture, architecture and fiesta atmosphere in the cities.”
Most visitors to the region include a visit to its seductive capital Seville, which houses Europe’s largest historic quarter, in their itineraries. Here’s our guide to the best of the city.
By day
A collection of palaces inhabited by former Moorish chiefs, the Reales Alcazar (Royal Palace) resembles a smaller version of Granada’s famous Alhambra. Wander through its maze of sumptuous rooms and interior courtyards and don’t forget to visit the exotic garden with its fountains, palms and viewing gallery.
A stone’s throw from the palace is the world’s third largest cathedral, the Holy Cathedral of Seville. Get a bird’s-eye view of the city from the 12th century bell tower, the Giralda.
Dance is the life-blood of Andalucia and the hi-tech Museum of Flamenco Dance pays homage to Flamenco and the cultural heritage of Andalucia.
By night
Flamenco shows don’t come much better than those at the small and intimate Casa de la Memoria. The atmospheric Santa Cruz district, with its numerous tapas bars, is on the doorstep. For dinner and Flamenco combined try El Patio Sevillano, next to the bullring.
For a big dose of la vida de la calle (street life) there are few better spots than Plaza del Salvador. Flanked with orange trees, the square is perfect for soaking up the atmosphere with an al fresco drink, meal or ice cream.
Where to stay
The 17th century Casa Romana’s 26-rooms are set around an atmospheric interior courtyard, and the romantic rooftop suite has direct access to a Jacuzzi and flower-strewn terrace.
Starwood’s Alfonso XIII has intricate carvings, crystal chandeliers and Moorish arches while the elegant bedrooms were originally built to house heads of state.
For a countryside option southwest of Seville suggest the 15-room Hacienda de Oran, a former olive hacienda located within an extensive farmstead. Activities include horse riding, hunting and hot air ballooning.
Sample product
Kirker sells three nights in Seville and four nights at the Hacienda San Rafael country inn, on the rolling Andalucian plains, from £1,099 per person including flights, daily dinner with wine, transfer to Seville and a hire car from Seville.
A four-night holiday taking in the hilltop Alhambra palace in Granada with Flightcentre costs from £309 per person twin-share including flights and four nights’ accommodation with breakfast at the four-star Alixares Hotel. Book by August 31 for travel between October 1-31.
Seville travel facts
Getting there: there are international airports in Malaga, Seville, Granada, Jerez and Almeria. Monarch flies from Birmingham to Almeria and Ryanair from East Midlands, Liverpool and Stansted to Granada-Jaen. Ryanair flies from Liverpool and Stansted to Seville and Thomas Cook/Thomsonfly from Manchester to Jerez. Malaga is accessible from 22 UK airports.
Flight time: two hours and 45 minutes
Currency: euro
Time difference: GMT + one hour
Weather: Hot summers and mild, often sunny winters characterise the coast (Malaga) and inland areas (Seville, Cordoba) with inland summer temperatures rising to 40 Celsius.
