The capital of Andalusia
The city of Seville is universally known. In it, art, culture, tradition and tourism come together to make it one of the most attractive places in Spain.
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Its Iberian origins have come down to our time through its early name: Hispalis. The city experienced some of its most splendid times during the Muslim domination, which lasted more than five centuries and made a deep impression on the traditions and culture of its inhabitants, with Arab traces even surviving down to our own day. The site of the Cathedral, the Citadel and the General Archive of the Indies represent the very essence of Seville. With the UNESCO World Heritage designation, they are some of Spain's most valuable artistic and cultural monuments. The cathedral is an imposing building, built on top of the former main mosque and preserving its minaret, which is known as the Giralda and is one of the emblems of Seville. In the cathedral, architectural styles from various periods come together, although the dominant one is Gothic (15th to 16th C). It is one of the greatest cathedrals in Europe and the largest in terms of volume. The General Archive of the Indies is in the former Merchants' Exchange, the work of Juan de Herrera and typically Renaissance style from the 16th century. It houses extremely valuable documents illustrating the history of the Spanish overseas empire. The Royal Citadel and its gardens are an architectural jewel whose origin goes back to the time of Abd-al-Rahman II in the 9th century and which formed part of the city's defences. Later it became a royal residence, particularly after the building of the Citadel itself in the 9th century. Other monarchs, like Pedro the Cruel, put up new buildings and made alterations in the 14th century. One of the most notable rooms is the Ambassadors' Room, the heart of the old Citadel, in the Mudejar style.
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 | UNESCO
World Heritage | | (Year of registration: 1987) |
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| | | Type of monument: Fortress, Cathedral. | |
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| Surrounding area | | | | The city of Seville contains a heritage of monuments of the first order. Its many monuments and museums, as well as the entire urban structure of the old town, make it a city to be discovered at leisure.
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