September in Seville - 6 reasons to visit now!
Nights are coming and mornings are dark and foggy, but it's not yet time to dust off the woolen sweaters. A visit to Seville at the end of September can provide the last breath of summer sunshine and we couldn't recommend it more! Here are six reasons why you should visit this beautiful city in the fall.
1. Amazing foodSeville offers everything from small, well-packaged, atmospheric tapas bars with hams hanging from the ceiling to more upscale and sophisticated restaurants in a beautiful historic setting. Try La Quinta in Santa Catalina for the incredible Galician beef and Bellota pork. It's more of a restaurant than a tapas bar and has a calm, grown-up atmosphere. It is located in a beautiful Sevillian townhouse - one to leave the kids at home!
For an old-fashioned tapas bar that has been in the same family since 1850, visit Casa Morales near the cathedral; beware it can be noisy and crowded but has an authentic atmosphere and tapas to die for! If you fancy a change from typical Spanish cuisine, we recommend La Gallina Bianca in the Barrio Santa Cruz. A range of fresh pasta and pizzas - try the Formaggio pizza from Capra e Patanegra for fabulous Italian cuisine with a Spanish twist.
With an average of 32 degrees and only two rainy days, it's hard to dispute the September climate in Seville. Mornings are cool but in the late afternoon temperatures will peak in the early thirties before cooling off again overnight. It's dry and warm with low humidity and little more than a gentle breeze. It's not as sweltering as July and August when temperatures can peak at over 40 degrees - it's not known as "Europe's frying pan" for nothing! In fact, midsummer visitors may find that the Sevillians have noticeably escaped the heat and made their way to the (relatively) cooler coastal areas like the beaches of Cadiz and Tarifa.
Seville airport is a twenty minute taxi ride from the city center and costs around 25 euros. UBER is starting to show up although it is early and we have found that the drivers lack local knowledge which in a town with so many narrow cobbled streets could be a problem. You're better off with a local who knows the best and fastest routes around town. Although once you are settled in your hotel or apartment, walking is your best bet in the center as it is usually faster and gives you a chance to enjoy the beautiful surroundings.
There is also a decent bus and tram network that run south from Plaza Nueva and have four stops, covering a total distance of 1.4 km, as well as an extensive network of cycle paths and rental stations. bikes (belonging to the Sevici bike rental program). Lime and bird scooter rental companies are also present in Seville, although there is little regulation or safety and no one seems to be wearing a helmet, so you could take charge of your life!
4. Suitable for childrenSeville is a wonderful city to bring children; the Spaniards have a completely different schedule than the Brits, but it's amazing how quickly kids can adjust to late evenings (and, hopefully, later mornings!). The Spaniards, like many Europeans, are very welcoming and hospitable to children; restaurants often have children's menus or are happy to offer smaller portions of adult dishes. The style of eating tapas also appeals to children who can try small portions of a lot of different foods and it is certainly good for encouraging adventurers. Churros (a Spanish version of donuts) dipped in chocolate sauce usually pair well.
A highlight for children is the incredible Isla Mágica theme park (northwest of the city center, ten minutes by taxi) which was built on the site of the 1992 World's Fair and has been open for a long time. little over twenty years. It features both a theme park, with Spain's first reverse roller coaster (not for the faint hearted!) And log rides, but also a water park (a more recent addition) in the main park. Isla Mágica has six 'worlds' to explore with individual themes such as Puerto de Indias and the Amazon and each has its own rides and restaurants and offers hours and hours of fun and adventure. The most breathtaking ride is El Desafio which is a free fall from a 68 meter high tower, not one for after lunch! We recommend that you book your tickets in advance to avoid the risk of ending up in a long line to enter.
Agua Mágica is the water park area and requires its own additional ticket. It offers respite from the heat, so it's a good late afternoon option and offers an array of open and closed slides and a lazy river for those who want some time to relax and recover from the cold. scariest rides! Some of the larger slides have minimum weight and height restrictions, which will limit options for younger children, although the lazy river, kids' wading pool, and wave pool should keep them happy for hours.
For a quieter place to relax, Parque María Luisa, Jardines de Murillo, and Alameda de Hercules are good options for shady, cool areas for an afternoon stroll or a visit to the playground. games. The largest is Parque María Luisa located on the site of Expo 1929, whose crowning achievement was the astonishing and imposing Plaza de España. It is a huge semi-circular brick building with forty-eight alcoves (one for each province of Spain), each with painted ceramic tiles representing the province. Today Plaza de España is used as government offices, but also for events and as a filming location, for Star Wars among others. A canal runs along the front of the building where you can hire small rowing boats.
While the María Luisa Park offers an opportunity for peace and quiet, there is also the option of an unusual bicycle tour; you can rent double-width bikes for two, four or six seats with sun visors, each seat with its own pedals and run (or meander!) around the park. Horse and carriage rides are also an option.
5. Architectural beautyObviously, the beauty of this town and the historical Moorish influence may be lost on small children, but there is something magical about the architecture that has been well preserved. The Royal Alcazar of Seville, a UNESCO World Heritage Site featuring an incredible mix of Moorish and Christian influences, with its cool gardens and stunning mosaics and the Roman Catholic Cathedral with its Giralda (bell tower) are two examples. and well worth a visit. You can take a guided tour of the cathedral including seeing where Christopher Columbus is buried and also climb the Giralda tower if you are feeling energetic you will be rewarded with stunning views of the city. We recommend purchasing your tickets in advance to avoid queuing in the scorching sun, and at certain times admission is free, so it's worth investigating before your visit.
6. Luxury hotels Seville has a range of luxury places to stay. The large and imposing Alfonso XIII Hotel opened in 1928, aspiring to be the best hotel in Europe and today is arguably the largest and most elegant place to stay in Seville. It is located next to the university which was historically a former tobacco factory made famous by Bizet's opera Carmen. Alfonso XIII offers fine dining as well as more casual snacks by the beautiful outdoor swimming pool (open only to hotel guests) and sumptuous rooms and suites.
For something luxury but understated in style, try the Corral Del Rey (sister hotel to the highly recommended Hacienda San Raphael - an hour south of Seville in the Andalusian countryside) or the Hospes Las Casas Del Rey De Baeza, at the times much smaller and rustic chic design. If you are looking for something more modern, try the EME Catedral Hotel, as the name suggests, a stone's throw from the famous landmark and with a great swimming pool and rooftop bar.
