Having decided to go on vacation to sunny Spain, be sure to visit Seville and Valencia. One Arab historian said: “He who has not been to Seville has not seen a miracle,” and this is not an exaggeration. The city of Seville is the pride and capital of the autonomous region of Andalusia, and Andalusia itself is called "the real Spain". Valencia - both the autonomous region and the capital of the same name of this region - will be remembered by you for its orange scent, the smell of roasted chestnuts, Baroque architecture and, of course, beaches.
Spain has always been associated with bullfighting. Arena Maestranza or Piazza Bulls (La Real Maestranza) is one of the most important in the world and one of the oldest and most beautiful in Spain. It was here that the foot bullfight appeared when the matador first got off the horse. Regardless of your attitude to bullfighting, visit the Museum dedicated to horses and bulls, which contains rare exhibits, including a cloak painted by Pablo Picasso. In Seville, the most active and expensive bullfighting season is April, when annual festivals are held and famous bullfighters perform.
Another symbol of Spain is wine. Jerez is a famous strong Spanish wine with excellent taste and delicate aroma. Real sherry is made only in Andalusia.
Seville is the city of Don Giovanni, Carmen and flamenco. The building of an old tobacco factory has survived here, where the burning beauty of the gypsy Carmen from the novel by Prosper Merimee worked. Now it houses the local university. The legendary Christopher Columbus set out on his voyage from Seville.
By its architecture, the city can be called "horizontal", which is due to the low height of buildings, especially in the center. But there are monuments outstanding in every sense, such as La Giralda, the tallest tower in Seville, about 98 m high. This is an ancient minaret that was built as a mosque, then became the bell tower of the cathedral, and now it is a symbol of the city. If you master 34 stairs, then from the height of the tower you will have an amazing panorama of Seville.
Plaza de España is the main monument of the Iberoamerican Exhibition of 1929. It is located in a semicircle, made of red brick, along the walls in niches all the provinces of Spain are represented. The floor of each niche is lined with colorful mosaics.
Seville Cathedral, built in the 15th century, is the largest Gothic cathedral in the world and the third tallest after San Pedro in Rome and San Pablo in London. And the old palace of Reales Alcazares was the residence of the Spanish kings. Visit the palace where Christopher Columbus once met with monarchs
The sights of Seville also include the Golden Tower - an observation post of the 13th century. Built in 1120, the roof was lined with clay bricks, which shone like gold in the sun, which is why it got its name. Now it houses the Maritime Museum.
Be sure to visit the Santa Cruz quarter - the old Jewish quarter next to the cathedral. Many souvenir shops, walls overgrown with flowers, romantic atmosphere and beautiful views of the cathedral attract tourists here.
The Triana Bridge offers stunning views of the Golden Tower, Plaza of the Bulls and La Giralda. Try to get here at sunrise, sunset, or even at night. And on the outskirts of Seville is the largest park in the city - Alamillo. There are paths for walking and cycling, and even a train runs.
It is impossible to imagine Spain without its luxurious beaches. The autonomous region of Valencia in the southeast of the country is the center of Spain's beach tourism. The length of the region's coastline is 485 km. The beaches of Valencia have been awarded the EU Blue Flag, and for this indicator the area has bypassed all other Spanish regions. In Valencia, there is also one of the most popular amusement parks in Spain - "Tera Mitica", built based on the famous myths of antiquity.
The Cathedral (Catedral de Valencia) is a grandiose structure in the very center of the city and the most important landmark of Valencia. The Holy Grail is kept here - the very cup from which Christ ate at the Last Supper. Don't go past the Apostolic Gate or the Puerta de los Apostoles. Once a week, on Thursday, exactly at noon, members of the "Water Tribunal" gather here - this is the oldest judicial institution in all of Europe, its task is to distribute water to irrigate the valley. Now this tradition has been preserved more for the entertainment of tourists and is one of the hallmarks of Valencia.
