Seville – historic buildings not to be missed

Recently we drove up from Gibraltar to Seville.

The farmland did not appear very fertile with frequent large outcrops of the white rocks on the hills close by and in the distance. Being winter much of the land was not planted with crops. This meant you could easily see the fist-sized white rocks all over the fields.

There were very frequent bridge overpasses across the motorway. These allowed the farmers to safely get to farmland on each side of the motorway. What seemed odd to me was the seeing solid concrete and steel bridges with dirt tracks leading up to them on each side.

Driving on the opposite side of the road compared to what you are used to is unnerving. Even as a passenger. There is loads to cope with; being on the wrong side of the road for us, signs in another language, or lack of street signs in the places you are used to finding them, manual gears on the drivers’ right side while you are driving from the left seat. TIP: Remember to get an automatic rental car, especially when driving on a different side of the road that you are used to driving on. Changing gears with your non-usual hand is a pain!

Fortunately, the motorway was not very busy being winter. And on the dual carriage section is easier but you really need to take care when connecting up to oncoming traffic that you are on the right side. Going right on roundabouts and checking for traffic from the left.

As we drove closer to Seville the farmland improved.

Once we got to Seville we went out walking around the historic town centre. It was just full of one way super skinny streets. Many were streets were lined with orange trees full of super brightly coloured extremely ripe fruit. Repaved recently, here is a wider than normal street where there was room to walk. Usually, you were on the road however cars had restricted access making this easier.

Some orange trees in a street in Seville

From the outside walls of the Cathedral with the Giralda tower and Real Alcazar, we got a taste of the adventure we would have tomorrow touring throughout the buildings and gardens with the intermingling of Muslim, with Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque periods, re-purposed Roman monuments, Moorish tiles and more that awaited our viewing tomorrow.

Seville Cathedral with the Giralda Tower

Outside the Seville Cathedral

Here is a small section wall of the Real Alcazar that gave away a few secrets about the rich history behind it.

Small Part of the Real Alcazar Wall

Safe and happy travels!