For two centuries Seville was Spain's gateway to the Americas, and the wealth that passed through its river port paid for one of the largest churches ever built. Almohad towers, Mudéjar palaces, orange trees and flamenco do the rest. Here are the facts and stories that make the city special.
10 fun facts about Seville
- A minaret turned bell tower: the Giralda was completed in 1198 as the minaret of the Almohad great mosque. Inside, 35 ramps instead of stairs wind up to the top, wide enough, it is said, for a horse.
- A weathervane that named a tower: the bronze figure of Faith on top of the Renaissance belfry, added in 1568, turns with the wind. It is called the Giraldillo, from girar, 'to turn', and the tower took its name from it.
- The largest Gothic cathedral in the world: Seville Cathedral was begun in 1401 on the site of the mosque. Its builders, the story goes, wanted a church so big that those who saw it would think them mad.
- Columbus, carried by kings: Christopher Columbus's tomb in the cathedral is borne by four figures representing the kingdoms of Castile, León, Aragon and Navarre. DNA studies have supported the view that the bones inside are at least partly his.
- A palace still in royal use: the upper floors of the Real Alcázar are the Spanish royal family's residence in Seville, and its Mudéjar palace was built for King Peter I in the 14th century. Its gardens played the Water Gardens of Dorne in Game of Thrones.
- Streets lined with oranges: tens of thousands of bitter orange trees grow along Seville's streets and squares. The fruit is too sour to eat raw, and much of the crop has long been shipped to Britain for marmalade.
- A square built for a world's fair: the Plaza de España was designed by Aníbal González for the Ibero-American Exposition of 1929. Its 48 tiled alcoves each represent a Spanish province, and it appears in Star Wars: Episode II.
- A tower of gold: the Torre del Oro by the river was built by the Almohads around 1220 as a watchtower guarding the port.
- Carmen worked here: the vast 18th-century Royal Tobacco Factory, where Bizet's opera Carmen is set, is now the main building of the University of Seville.
- Mushrooms over the old town: the Metropol Parasol, nicknamed Las Setas, 'the mushrooms', opened in 2011 and is one of the largest wooden structures in the world, with a rooftop walkway.
The legend of NO8DO
Look at Seville's manhole covers, buses and town hall and you will see the letters NO8DO. In the 13th century, the story goes, King Alfonso X the Wise faced a revolt led by his own son, Sancho. Much of Castile sided with the prince, but Seville stayed loyal to the king, and in gratitude Alfonso gave the city this motto. The figure in the middle is not an eight but a skein of wool, a madeja. Read aloud, NO-madeja-DO sounds like 'no me ha dejado': 'it has not abandoned me'. Historians still debate the origin, but the symbol has been the city's emblem for centuries.
Triana, explained
Across the Guadalquivir from the old town lies Triana, long the district of potters, sailors and flamenco singers. Its workshops produced many of the painted tiles you see all over Seville, and ceramics shops still line its streets. The Castle of San Jorge, at the end of the Triana bridge, was the seat of the Spanish Inquisition; its remains lie in a small museum under the Triana Market. In 1519 Magellan's fleet set out from Seville on the voyage that became the first circumnavigation of the globe.
What to eat in Seville
- Espinacas con garbanzos: spinach stewed with chickpeas, cumin and fried bread, a tapa with roots in Moorish cooking.
- Pescaíto frito: small fish and squid, dusted in flour and fried, best eaten from a paper cone.
- Montadito de pringá: a small bread roll filled with the slow-cooked meats from a cocido stew.
- Torrijas: bread soaked in milk or wine, fried and coated in honey or sugar, the classic sweet of Holy Week.
Good to know before you go
- In July and August temperatures often climb past 40°C. Plan outdoor sightseeing for the morning and evening, and keep the hot afternoon for shady interiors.
- Book Alcázar tickets online well ahead. A cathedral ticket includes the climb up the Giralda.
- During Holy Week and the April Fair the city fills up and processions close streets, so book accommodation early.
- Córdoba is under an hour away by high-speed train, and the Roman city of Itálica, birthplace of Emperor Trajan, lies just outside Seville.
Explore Seville with World City Trail
Our Seville scavenger hunt turns these sights into a game you play on your phone. The route links 10 stops and takes around three hours, with about 49 minutes of walking, and its stops include the Puerta del León of the Alcázar and the Plaza de España.
At each stop you solve a puzzle and hear a short story, at your own pace. You can start whenever you like.
Play the Seville scavenger hunt →
Facts checked in October 2026.