Seville

Seville has a fascinating history. Known as Hispalis to the Romans, Scipio founded a colony in Italica because he did not trust the violent nature of the city's inhabitants. Now in the municipality of Santiponce, this impressive archaeological site includes an amphitheatre, a theatre, baths and a temple dedicated to Trajan, many of its finds being exhibited at Seville's Archaeological Museum.

However, it was the Moors that had the greatest influence on the city, which they called Isbiliya. Their legacy includes many wonderful monuments, such as the Torre del Oro, on the banks of the Guadalquivir, the Giralda, and the old part of town. Other outstanding monuments include the Mudejar Reales Alcazares, the Gothic Cathedral, the largest of its kind in Europe, and the city's numerous Renaissance and Baroque churches and buildings.

The best way to get to know the eternal city of Seville – whose historic centre is the largest in Spain – is to take a stroll through the neighbourhood of Santa Cruz, or that of Triana on the opposite bank of the Guadalquivir, home to bullfighters and craftsmen, where time seems to have stood still in its alleyways.

The countryside around Seville is characterised by its pastures and farmland, with a number of interesting towns, such as Carmona and Ecija. To the north of the province, the plains give way to the foothills of Sierra Morena and the enchanting villages of the Sierra Norte Natural Park, such as Cazalla and Constantina.

Visitors to Seville should not miss the chance to discover the city's deeply-rooted customs and traditions – the Holy Week processions, the April Fair, bullfighting at the Maestranza, the flamenco biennial – or to tour the central neighbourhoods' tapas bars, for that matter.

Some places of interest: Alcalá de Guadaira, Arahal, Camas, Carmona, Castilleja de la Cuesta, Cazalla de la Sierra, Coria del Rio, Dos Hermanas, Ecija, Estepa, Guadalquivir, Isla Mayor, Italica, La Rinconada, Las Cabezas de San Juan, Lebrija, Los Palacios y Villafranca, Mairena de Aljarafe, Mairena del Alcor, Marchena, Moron de la Frontera, Osuna, San Juan de Aznalfarache, Seville, Sierra Morena, Sierra Norte, Tomares, Utrera, etc.