Seville is a romantic location, but ideal for the historically curious as well, with 30 heritage routes to explore throughout the city. These include the splendid crescent-shaped Plaza de Espana and the sprawling outdoor spaces of the wider Parque de Maria Luisa to the winding lanes of the Barrio Santa Cruz. One of the best ways to view the urban landscape is alfresco and from above in a terrace bar while grazing on the local tapas and sipping sangria. Admire the Catedral de Santa María de la Sede (Seville Cathedral), the largest Gothic temple in the world and the third-largest Christian temple, after St Peter’s of the Vatican and St Paul’s of London. Built where the main Aljama of Seville once stood, the works began in the 15th century. Some of the old mosque still remains, such as its bell tower, the Giralda which one can climb to peer over the terracotta roof tiles over the Jewish Quarter as well as the magnificent 14th Century Alcazar and the iconic royal court of the Mudejar. Other cultural gems include Palacio de San Telmo, an intricate architectural feat with its Churrigueresque doorway. This imposing palace now houses the Junta de Andalucía (Council of Andalusia). One can also admire the futuristic Metropol Parasol, Seville, Spain -the world’s largest wooden structure.
