Sevilla? Seville?

Sevilla (Se-bi-ya). Or Seville as it is wrongly pronounced in the English speaking world is the capital of, and the largest city in, Andalucia, Southern Spain.

When you think of Spain what images does it conjure in your mind? Bullfighting? Flamenco? Tapas? I suspect so - They are all products of this visually striking region of Spain.

Now, before I try to explain just how much I love this city I start with a caution. In the Summer months Sevilla is *HOT*. Not as hot as the sensationalists who claim it often reaches 45c, but still, it is officially the second warmest city in Europe during the Summer months. I'm from England, that damp little rock a world away from the south of Spain, where the sun is a mythical beast we read only about in the travel agents, so maybe people from warmer climates will deal with it better than me. Although, it appears even the sevillanos aren't immune to it as in July and August the locals, en masse, up and head for the beach, leaving the city eerily quiet. My advice to you is to visit this wonderful city, outside of these months.

Right, The Alcazar;

The Alcazar, the oldest royal palace still in use throughout Europe, A fact I've only just discovered myself while researching this blog post, despite visiting it myself on more than one occasion. I can't really do it any more justice than from quoting from its own official website.

"The historical evolution of the city in the last millennium is within its walls and gardens, amalgamating influences starting from the Arabic Period, late Middle Ages right through to the renaissance, Baroque and the XIX Century."

To truly enjoy the scale, the culture, and mostly the interior beauty of the Alcazar, all you need to do is walk around it - for the modest fee of around £7.

The Alcazar puts its picturesque surroundings to good use by offering historic lectures (in English and Spanish), Spring Theater or Garden evenings in the gorgeous, quaint land surrounding the palace.

Sevilla's major contributions to Spanish culture come in the form of Flamenco and Bullfighting. I'm no huge fan of bullfighting, it's the one area of Spanish culture I don't enjoy, or even entirely agree with, but that's exactly what it is, part of Spanish culture. So if you do wish to attend a bullfight, Sevilla is probably the place to do so, although be warned, their season is very short - Madrid's is much longer. It is also worth paying for the higher priced tickets )- as these will be the one's situated under some sort of shade (see earlier mention of extreme Andalucian heat).

Sevilla's other gift to the world is the tear-jerking Flamenco. You probably think Flamenco is a dance, don't you? Wrong! Original Flamenco was purely voice, a chant of passion with its roots in the Andalucian Roma community. The history of Flamenco and how we've arrived at the Flamenco of recently deceased genius Paco de Lucia is open to much debate. The history of how this art form full of passion and feeling has changed and touched my life is a subject for a future, and lengthy post. 

Whether you share my love of Flamenco, have a passing interest, or if you have no idea what I'm on about it, Sevilla really is the place to experience it, and experience it you must.

You say Seville, I say Sevilla, but however you say it, this vibrant, hot, colourful, cultural heart of the Andalucia region has it all. It is the beating heart of Spain's tapas and Flamenco cultures, it hasn't forgotten its Moorish past, it is still (just about) holding its own against the tourist tirade and it is a certainly a place anyone who wants to truly experience Spain, needs to visit.

If you have any views, experiences, or would like any advice on visiting Seville, please feel free to comment below.

Gracias, y adios.