Today was a full day exploring Seville! I started out with Parque de Maria Luisa which was right next to La Plaza España. That meant I got to have a second look at the Plaza. The Plaza is a place I could spend hours examining every section and tile pattern. It was just so stunning! Under each arch there was a different scene depicted in the tiles.
Parque De Maria Luisa was very green and peaceful. It was full of greenery and various monuments. In the middle of the park there was a large pond filled with bright green algae and a gazebo. There were many vicious looking ducks in that area too.
In the heart of Seville lies the Seville cathedral. The cathedral is the second UNESCO world heritage site in the city. I have been to at least a hundred churches by now so initially I didn't think twice to purchase a ticket online. I later decided that was one of the main sites and I really wanted to climb to the top of the Giralda. Tickets were sold out online by the time I made up my mind but luckily I was able to wait in line and get a student discount for both the cathedral and Giralda. I am glad I waited in line for tickets as that was one of the most impressive cathedrals I have seen! It is the largest cathedral in the world and has over 80 different chapels that branch off. It is truly a piece of art! In the center of the cathedral is the tomb of Christopher Columbus being carried by four men. My favorite part of the cathedral was a gold facade behind the altar that depicted various scenes from the bible.
In one of the chapels there was a wedding happening which I might have accidentally found myself at but then realized I was clearly underdressed as people were really dressed up!
Off to the side there was the entrance to the Giralda. Unlike most other bell towers, this one had a ramp to get to the top which made it slightly easier than climbing stairs. The ramp went round and round with occasional windows to look out and see the city below. From the top I could see the buttresses of the cathedral below and ornate spires. I also caught a view of the main plaza down below. I wish I could see the entire cathedral but it is so massive! I spent a couple hours between the bell tower and cathedral; there was so much to see there.
I stopped at Plaza del Cabildo but it was basically just a scenic spot. The arches were painted with orange flowers and a fountain situated in the middle.
Looking for things to do with the remainder of my day I stopped at Casa de Pilatos. On Google, Casa de Pilatos is labeled as a museum but in reality it is a 16th century palace. The palace is still active today and serves as the residence for the Dukes of Medinaceli. Casa de Pilatos was one of the most underrated places! It was absolutely gorgeous with it's Moorish arches and detail combined with Spanish tiles. The best part of it was that there was hardly anyone since it was a bit removed from the heart of the city. It had similar architecture to the Royal Alcazar minus the crowds. It was perfect!
I found the palace to be one of the prettiest places I had seen so far. I loved how vibrant the colors were and the different patterns of the tiles. There was an audio guide included with my admission and I enjoyed following along learning about the different rooms of the palace.
To end my day I stopped at the Setas. The Setas was a large wooden landmark and square. It was a very lively area with restaurants and music leading to a busy street full of shops.
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