Seville

The Monuments
Having said that, there are actually some monuments in Seville that shouldn’t be missed. The Cathedral is a massive Gothic masterpiece and it is truly worth the long climb up to the top of the Giralda Tower for the best view of the city. Don't worry, there are ramps going up rather than stairs, which makes it much easier. The Royal Palace (Alcázar) and Gardens are exquisite, and the first time I laid eyes on the Plaza de España I was well and truly gobsmacked.

The Festivals
The two big annual festivals here are Semana Santa (Easter Week) and the Feria de Abril (April Fair). If it's your first visit to Seville I wouldn't recommend coming during Semana Santa as you won't get to see much of the "real" Seville, but it is certainly something special. The April Fair takes place just outside the Los Remedios neighbourhood and you may find shops, bars and restaurants closed. During both of these festivals you will also notice a rise in hotel prices.

The Tapas
Seville is the birthplace of tapas and there are tapas bars and restaurants galore here. Best to check inside before taking a seat, or a place at the bar - if the place is full of locals then you are more likely to get a good meal. You can find everything from typical old bars serving basic traditional fare to modern trendy gastrobars that offer tapas with a twist. I like a bit of both, especially as they are all using fresh Mediterranean ingredients.

The Azahar
For about three weeks every spring (usually late February to mid-March) the orange trees are in blossom and all the streets in Seville smell like heaven. They say that orange blossom (azahar) is a natural sedative, which may account for its soothing effect. All I know is that the gentle fragrance filling my home and the streets always makes me smile and it probably goes without saying that this is my favourite time of year.

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