Inflight Magazine of Brussels Airlines

Welcome to the Inflight Magazine of Brussels Airlines

Destination Guides

bthere! Destination guides

Previous issues for Seville

Whilst every effort is made to ensure accuracy,
please confirm event/venue details in advance.

Spain : Seville - October 2007

Country Code: Dial for Spain

Seville encapsulates everything that is typically Andalusian – from the sumptuous Moorish-inspired architecture to the region’s foot-stomping flamenco. Add to this the raw vitality of spirit and your feel-good factor should soar. Josephine Quintero checks out the current scene

Getting around

Seville San Pablo Airport

Bus: Buses leave every half hour on weekdays and every hour at weekends. They start at about 6am and finish around 11pm. Tickets cost €2 and the journey takes about 25 minutes.
Taxi: A journey from the airport to the city centre takes about 15 minutes and costs approximately €20.
Tourist information: The main tourist offices can be found at 28 Calle Arjona (tel. ) and 19 Plaza de San Francisco (tel. , www.turismo.sevilla.org).

Centro

Explore the beating heart of the city with its intriguing shops, bars and restaurants.

Sleep soundly – Casa Sol y Luna (1A Calle Pérez Galdós, tel. , casasolyluna1.com, rooms from €45) is superbly priced for a former palacio.

Culture vultures – The sumptuous town hall (1 Plaza Nueva) dates back to the early 16th century. Make sure you pre-book a guided tour. Seville’s fabulous Museo de Bellas Artes (Calle San Roque) is housed in a gorgeous former convent.

Must eat – Crammed with locals, students and shoppers, Patio San Eloy (9 Calle San Eloy, tel. ) is a colourful bar and restaurant where customers spill out on to the tiled steps.

Must drink – Perch your drink on a barrel and soak up the old-style tavern atmosphere at La Bodega (4 Calle Alfalfa).

Dance the night away – The pocketsized heaving disco Catedral (Cuesta del Rosario) is packed with an irreverent crowd of revellers.

Shop til you drop – Pick up your flamenco frocks and frills at Maria Rosa (13 Calle Cuna).

El Arenal

Flanked by the glorious city park María Luisa, this area is interspersed with picture-postcard backstreets.

Sleep soundly – Hotel Vincci La Rábida (24 Calle Castelar, tel. , vinccihoteles.com, rooms from €250) is housed in a former palace. Elegant rooms are arranged around two patios, the rooftop terrace offers sweeping panoramic views

Culture vultures – A lesser known city jewel, the Hospital de la Caridad (3 Calle Temprado) is lavishly baroque, it contains several Murillo paintings and is open to the public. Concerts can be enjoyed at the luxurious Teatro de la Maestranza (22 Paseo de Colón). You mustn’t miss the 13th-century Torre del Oro (Golden Tower), just east of here, with its museum and beautiful riverside setting.

Must eat – The best fresh fish and seafood can be found at La Isla (25 Calle Arfe, tel. ). If you fancy some great Italian cuisine, check out Porta Rossa (20 Calle Pastor y Landero, tel. ), it serves up delicious pizzas made with a traditional crisp, thin base.

Must drink – Reputed to be the second oldest bar in town, Casa Morales (11 Calle Garcia de Vinuesa) is superbly atmospheric, attracting a friendly crowd of elderly men wearing flat caps.

Dance the night away – Work up a sweat at Nuyor Café (30 Calle Marqués de Paradas) with its lively mix of flamenco and Cuban music.

Shop til you drop – Pick up a wheel of crumbly Manchego cheese at the Baco deli (7 Calle Zaragoza), a treasure trove of gourmet goodies, selling meats, nuts and savoury treats.

Santa Cruz

The choicest part of town, with chairs on squares, twisting cobbled alleyways and a musical backdrop of strolling guitarists and canaries on balconies.

Sleep soundly – San Franciso (38 Calle Alvarez Quintero, tel. , sanfranciscoh.com, rooms from €78) is good value, and within confessional distance of the cathedral.

Culture vultures – This area is packed full of treasures. Aside from the obvious cathedral and Alcázar, check out 15th-century Casa de Pilatos (1 Plaza de Pilatos) with its dazzling tilework.

Must eat – Located in one of the area’s prettiest squares, Hostería del Laurel (5 Plaza de los Venerables, tel. ) has a traditional menu.

Must drink – There’s an excellent wine list at stylish La Sacristía (18 Calle Mateos Gago), while nearby La Fresquita (29 Calle Mateos Gago) is festooned with heady religious decorations.

Shop til you drop – Indulge in a bottle of orange-scented Agua de Sevilla perfume (or aftershave) at the eponymous store (3 Calle San Fernando).

Compiled by Josephine Quintero