Seville, the capital of the Andalusia region (Southern Spain) is the first city you should visit in Spain, not Madrid, not Barcelona. Their unique culture, rich history enriched with amazing architecture will definitely surprise you.
Did you that the popular movie ‘Star Wars’ was filmed here?
A 20€ cheap flight from Madrid made me include Seville in my vacation itinerary. Little did I know about Seville prior to my visit. Apart from the Royal Alcazar, Plaza de Espana is one of the popular tourist attractions you must include in your bucket list.
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Blog Contents
Plaza de Espana
It was early morning, around 7 am. The city was quiet, shops yet to open, streets empty. Expect the city to get busy in the late mornings.
History
Built-in 1928 for the Ibero-American Exhibition, the Plaza de Espana is a central plaza in Maria Luisa Park. The pavilions once hosted exhibitions are now used as museums and offices.
Torre Norte
Termed as the North tower, the Torre Norte is your main entrance to the plaza. This point gives you a panoramic view of the whole plaza.
Architecture
Get ready to be blown away by the stunning architecture. It has a mix of elements from the Baroque, Renaissance, and Moorish architecture. The mosaic tiles are enriched with intrinsic designs. Walking through the Pavilion will you a king’s feel.
The entire plaza is arc-shaped making it a picturesque point from anywhere.
Boat rides
Did you know that the locals fondly call the plaza ‘Venice of Seville’?
You can rent a rowboat (~ 6€ for 40 minutes), ride through the canals, and soak in the atmosphere. The length is about 500m and 4 bridges connect to the central region
Garden
Maria Luisa Park is a holds 2.7 hectares of greenery, your answer to the summer heat. It also includes a massive fountain and a Jesus statue holding the cross. The Park’s access was limited as most parts were under renovation during our visit.
Flamenco dance
Flamenco is a folkloric music tradition popular in Southern Spain. The Sevillanos (people in Seville) performing the Flamenco dance is the best part of Seville. The Flamenco street artists fill the central plaza.
Watching several artist’s dances is a visual treat. They take turns and continue performing non-stop for hours. You only wonder how fast the legs tap.
It’s rare to find the dance in other popular parts of Spain like Madrid, Malaga or Barcelona. It’s absolutely free to watch the dance, so please be kind to offer them a tip.
How to reach Plaza de Espana
Central bus station
From the Seville central bus station (Prado de San Sebastián), the Plaza de Espana is only a km away. So you can easily stroll through. Ice cream points, juice shops, gardens make your walk pleasant.
Central train station
From Sevilla Santa Justa train station, use bus lines C1, C2, or MD and get down at ‘Prado de San Sebastián’. Use google maps to check which direction the bus is heading.
My experience
Visit this plaza for two main reasons – Flamenco dance and the breathtaking architecture. Neither you would have seen nor you will ever see a plaza this charming. When in Seville, do visit the Venice of Seville – Plaza de Espana.
Overall experience: 
out of 5
Time of visit: June 2019
“There is no nightlife in Spain. They stay up late but they get up late. That is not nightlife. That is delaying the day.” – Ernest Hemingway