Seville

We drove for 90 minutes west to Seville, arriving about 10:30 am.  Seville is a major city (pop 700,000) on a river which became enormously wealthy through trade via shipping which came up the river to its port, before falling on hard times when the river silted up.  In the 1920's they staged a huge trade exposition, the Ibero-American exhibition of 1929, in an effort to attract new business to the city.  Unfortunately their timing was very bad, thanks to the Wall Street crash, and they have been slowly recovering from the enormous debt ever since.  It did leave them with some spectacular parks and buildings, however!

Plaza de Espana, Seville

Seville also has a vast cathedral, including a bell tower with ramps all the way up instead of steps, so the nobles could ride up on their horses!

In Seville cathedral

The bell tower, with horse access

The other main feature of Seville is the Real Alcazar, an extensive complex of palaces and gardens.

Gardens of Real Alcazar