Destination: Seville, Spain
Date: 3rd June 2013
Depart City: Granada, Spain
**Transport: **Renfe train
Time to reach destination: Approx. 3 hr
Camera+Lens: Nikon D90 with Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 (non-VC)
Re: My visit to Seville in 2013
**Alcázar of Seville
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Re: My visit to Seville in 2013
Re: My visit to Seville in 2013
**The Giralda (seen in the first picture below) Tower was once the minaret for the mosque in Seville. It is now the bell tower for the Cathedral of Seville. The Giralda is a surviving reminder of the Great Mosque of Ishbilia (i.e, the Arabic name for Seville). This minaret and its majestic mosque were built in 1198 AD by Almohads, during Moslem al-Andalus, and modelled after al-Koutoubia Minaret in Marrakech. So impressive was la Giralda to Europeans, it inspired the construction of church bell towers all over the continent. After the reconquest of Seville by the Catholics, the mosque was destroyed to make way for the largest cathedral in Europe, but the minaret and the adjacent courtyard were spared destruction and were incorporated into the construction of the Gothic cathedral, which began in 1401. Though it has remained largely intact, la Giralda was crowned with a Baroque bell tower in 1568. **
Re: My visit to Seville in 2013
**Views from the top of Giralda. To climb up, you have to walk ramps instead of stairs, its an amazing experience. I went there in hot June but after every two turns there were cut outs made in the walls that allowed air to flow to provide much needed relief.
It is said that the Mouazzin (the person who announces prayer call in the mosque) used to ride on horseback to reach to the top and would announce the prayer call.
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Re: My visit to Seville in 2013
**The orange tree courtyard of the mosque is another relic left from the muslim era in Seville.
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Re: My visit to Seville in 2013
**Plaza de España in located in Maria Luisa Park. The park itself is a nice place to visit.
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Re: My visit to Seville in 2013
**The place is decorated with azulejos, painted ceramic tiles representing Spanish provinces.
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Re: My visit to Seville in 2013
Inside Alcazar
Re: My visit to Seville in 2013
I think I’m gonna move to Spain. 
Re: My visit to Seville in 2013
thanks for sharing. Reminds me of my visit!
Re: My visit to Seville in 2013
Beautiful pictures! I had a chance to visit spain about 3 years ago and loved every bit of it. Sadly I only got the chance to visit Madrid, Barcelona, and Ibiza. I was planning on going to Seville as well but it didn't work out. Next time Inshallah...especially after seeing these gorgeous pictures.
Re: My visit to Seville in 2013
Would one day be enough to visit Seville.
Reading on various forums, it seems like it may not be but if you do not have more time can the major attractions be done in a day or really half a day as things may close in the evening ?
Re: My visit to Seville in 2013
I did it in one day so it is possible. But I could only see these places and not the city itself. If possible make it two day visit.
Re: My visit to Seville in 2013
Thanks.
It will be a short visit and I could either spend more time/day in Seville and not go to Granada or visit both one day for each city.
I am still conflicted as I have young kids with me and they might not be interested in Granada
Re: My visit to Seville in 2013
you will need one day to just visit the palace in Granada. The small city is very good place to visit. In my view Granada should be a prioriy with more than one day.
Other option is to consider Cordoba, you can visit it for half a day from Seville. There are three places, mosque, a roman bridge near mosque and a castle which you can skip. All these places are reachable on foot from train station.
Re: My visit to Seville in 2013
Great, thanks for the tip.
I am planning the trip right now. I will have more questions when the dates are confirmed.