First things first ― don’t bring your children to Seville in the height of summer. The mercury hits some terrifyingly high numbers, and you’ll find yourself dealing with some seriously grumpy kids while battling your own sunburn issues. Should you bring your kids to Seville throughout the rest of the year? Absolutely, this is Europe’s most exciting city after all.
The main tourist neighbourhood of the city, Santa Cruz is an attraction in its own right. Formerly the Jewish Quarter, the district fell apart with the expulsion of Seville’s Jewish population in 1492, only to undergo an incredible reconstruction in the 18th century. This is an old town the likes of which we are use to coming across in Eastern Europe ― a maze of narrow streets that all offer the curious mixture of history and 21st century life. Wandering the streets of Santa Cruz is a real delight, and an entirely free one at that.
Widely regarded as one of the most beautiful parks on the planet, Seville’s Maria Luisa Park is a staggeringly beautiful expanse of verdant glory, the main green area in the city and a refresher in many meanings of the word. It was created in 1911 and stretches along the languid Guadalquivir, bringing nature to the fore in a city dominated by man-made genius and architectural brilliance. The park covers 100 acres, wonderful for exploring nooks and crannies or simply going for a long stroll to clear the head. It is full of monuments, birds, gorgeous images and all the rest. This is beautiful.
Rayas is the most famous ice cream shop in Seville and rightly so. This place has been serving top tier desserts since 1980 with no end in sight, take your place in the queue and prepare for some magnificent gelato. There are loads of flavours, so follow your heart and prepare to return time and time again.
We are fully aware of the moral dilemmas provided by places like aquariums and zoos, but we’re not going to deny the childlike wonder that grows in us as gaze in awe at some of the planet’s most incredible beasts. Seville’s aquarium is home to a wide variety of sea-dwellers, from jellyfish to turtles via sharks and plenty more. There are plenty of educational programs on offer here as well.
Like it or not, bullfighting is an integral part of the history and culture of Andalusia, and understanding the history of the tradition is integral to wringing every last drop out of Seville. The Bullfight Museum (or the Museo Taurino de la Real Maestranza de Caballería de Sevilla, to be exact) is found at the oldest bullring in Spain, a stunning spot in itself. There’s something about old bullfighting posters that we love too.
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