Seville Spain

#Seville_Spain
 
Because it was under control by both the Roman and Moors. you have many structures from the Golden Age of the Spanish Empire to look for within the city
 The Italica Amphitheater, Aqueducts & Columns in the Alameda de Hercules, City Walls, La Giralda, The Courtyard of the Orange Trees etc.

KeyTip;

Ways to Tour Seville;
A) Free Walking Tours; which you can "Tip" you guide whatever you deem 
B) Hop-On Hop-Off Bus; it has fourteen stops plus some providers offer packages that combine hop-on bus & panoramic river cruise
C) Bicycle; either a guided tour or rental on the 180 kms (110 miles) of bike lanes available  
D) Horse-Drawn Carriage;  45 minute tour through the historic center
E) Paddle Surfing or Kayaking; not sure how much you would see of the city from the river, but thank goodness we are all different 😅

To understand any city i always go back in its history
So for Seville it started with the Romans (birthplace of Emperors Trajan & Hadrian) then the Moors who introduced crops like oranges ( that still today line most of the streets plus the city squares) lemons, peaches, apricots, figs, sugarcane, dates and saffron

Also under the Moors education was universal in Spain thus available to everyone, meanwhile in all of Christian Europe 99% of the population were illiterate, even the Kings could not read or write
To put this is context; Europe had two Universities, Spain (under the Moors) had seventeen including a location in Seville
During their 800 year rein they also introduced many scientific techniques to measure the positions of the stars & planets plus advancement in chemistry, physics, mathematics, geography and philosophy

So as i go out to enjoy a few glasses of Sherry Wine i learn the name originated from the Jerez Region of Spain which was known as Sherish under the Moorish Rule
The wine making started in this area in 1100BC with the Phoenicians onto the Romans finally the Moors
How good was the wine with all this experience you ask, well when Sir Francis Drake raided the area in 1587 he brought back a very large quantity of the product (3000 barrels) which became known as "sack" in England

Tapas (lid or cover to keep the flies off the food)
So its tradition here in Seville to have your wine with a small plate of food which history claims that King Alfonso X ordered the pubs to serve food with the drinks to reduce the drunkenness 

Some Examples;
A) Pringa Pork; stew served on bread
B) Tortilla Espanola; potato and onion omelet
C) Gambas al Ajillo; shrimp cooked in olive oil with garlic and chilli peppers
D) Bacalao; salt cod stewed in tomato sauce
E) Berenjena con Miel; fried eggplant with honey
F) Choco Fritos; fried calamari

On my way to Santa Cruz (which is the Jewish Quarter of the city) as you feel the history of area as you walk the streets

From the 13th Century under King Ferdinand who established the Juderia area up to the Spanish Inquisition in 1481 (which targeted Jews who had converted to Christianity but secretly continued to practice Judaism)
 To the Final Expulsion in 1492 under the Alhambra Decree

#AlcazarPalace_GameofThrones

It is the oldest Royal Palace in Europe which is still used by the Spanish Monarch

But also know for its film location in the Game of Thrones and the setting for the Water Gardens of Dorne
A) Mercurys Pool; Doran Martell watching Myrcella & Trystane in the Dance Garden
B) Baths of Dona Maria Padilla; location where Ellaria Sand met with her daughters to plot revenge
C) Halls of Ambassadors; Where Jame Lannister negotiated with Doran Martell to return Myrcella
D) Carlos V Pavillion; the skirmish between Jamie & Bronn with the Sand Snakes

Torre Del Oro (Tower of Gold)

Built in 1220 the twelve-sided watchtower was to control the access on the Guadalquivir River thus protecting the city
The early defense mechanism was to stretch a large chain across the river to block any enemy ships before ongoing renovations which added two more levels
 Thus in time it became many things; a chapel, prison, gunpowder store and finally a port authority office

KeyTip;
 It costs 3 Euro to enter; but visitors can get a great view from the panoramic rooftop plus it houses the naval museum that has nautical instruments, models of ships & historical documents

Much history with the parks of Seville
Some were private gardens that was gifted to the city, another was the film location in 1962 for Lawrence of Arabia, one was a former zoo that the animals that were relocated and some were designed with an asymmetrical layout to symbolize romance 

In Closing;
 
Did a charcoal drawing of one of many amazing buildings of Seville as i have a glass of wine and say Gracias mi buen amigo