Seville Spain

#SevilleSpain_PearlAndalusia
 
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 and 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 😅

Early 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

Moors Influence
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

Future Thinking Mindset
During their 800 year rein they also introduced many scientific techniques to measure the positions of the stars and planets plus advancement in chemistry, physics, mathematics, geography and philosophy

Beginnings of Sherry Wine
 As 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

Sir Francis Drake
How good was the wine with all this experience you ask, so when he raided the area in 1587 then brought back a very large quantity of the product (3000 barrels) which became known
 as "sack" in England

Tapas
 ( meaning 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

Jewish Quarter
On my way to Santa Cruz as you feel the history of area as you walk the streets

Oppressed
Started in the 13th Century under King Ferdinand,
he established the Juderia area through the Spanish Inquisition in 1481
 But he targeted Jews who had converted to Christianity but secretly continued to practice Judaism

  Final Expulsion
 It happened in 1492 under the Alhambra Decree where the Jews had four months to leave and were allowed to "only" take moveable goods
The asset restrictions to stay was gold, silver, minted money or horses

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

 Game of Thrones Film Set
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

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

Charcoal Drawing
 One of the many amazing buildings of Seville as i have a glass of wine
 and say Gracias mi buen amigo