back next Seville, Spain Night and Daytime Photos PURCHASE GREAT MEMORIES OF YOUR TRIP TO SEVILLE, SPAIN- FOR HOME OR OFFICE. This gallery features night and daytime Seville,Spain images including the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Seville. Seville owes its importance during the 16th and 17th centuries to its designation as the capital of the Carrera de Indias (the Indies route: the Spanish trading monopoly with Latin America). It was the "Gateway to the Indies" and the only trading port with the Indies from 1503 until 1718. Images in this gallery include the Cathedral, Bell Tower, Alcazar, Plaza de Espana, Torre del Orro , bull fighting ring, fountains, Isabel II Bridge, Palacio de San Telmo, the Jewish Quarter, and much more. UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Seville include the cathedral and Alcazar. The cathedral and the Alcázar – dating from the Reconquest of 1248 to the 16th century and imbued with Moorish influences – are an exceptional testimony to the civilization of the Almohads as well as that of Christian Andalusia. The Giralda minaret is the masterpiece of Almohad architecture. It stands next to the cathedral with its five naves; the largest Gothic building in Europe, it houses the tomb of Christopher Columbus Founded in 1403 on the site of a former mosque, the Cathedral, built in Gothic and Renaissance style, covers seven centuries of history. With its five naves it is the largest Gothic building in Europe. Its bell tower, the Giralda, was the former minaret of the mosque, a masterpiece of Almohad architecture and now is important example of the cultural syncretism thanks to the top section of the tower, designed in the Renaissance period by Hernán Ruiz. Its "chapter house" is the first known example of the use of the elliptical floor plan in the western world. Ever since its creation, the Cathedral has continued to be used for religious purposes. Bartolome Murillo's Guardian Angel and the high Altar with the Last Supper are highlights. The original nucleus of the Alcázar was constructed in the 10th century as the palace of the Moslem governor, and is used even today as the Spanish royal family's residence in this city, thereby retaining the same purpose for which it was originally intended: as a residence of monarchs and heads of state. Built and rebuilt from the early Middle Ages right up to our times, it consists of a group of palatial buildings and extensive gardens Torre del Orro The Tower of Gold is a military watch tower built in 1220-1221, by order of the Almohad governor of Seville, Abu l-Ulà, with a twelve-sided base. It is located on the Guadiana River and strategically barred the way to the Arenal district with a section of wall joining it to the Tower of Silver, a part of the city walls that defended the Alcazar. The name Torre del Oro clearly comes from the gleam of lime mortar and straw that the building displayed giving it a golden color when the sun hit it directly. In the middle ages, it became a prison. On March 21, 1936, the Maritime Museum was installed in the Tower by order of the Admiralty. Plaza de Espana It was built for of the Ibero-american Exhibition of 1929, held in Seville. Its creator was Aníbal González. He mixed a style inspired by the Renaissance with typical elements from the city: exposed brick, ceramics and wrought iron (worked by Domingo Prida).The Spanish Square is highlighted with polychromatic ceramic tiles. The semicircular plaza has a diameter of 200 meters and is flanked by two spectacular towers and a bordering lake that are especially worth seeing. One can rent a row boat and row amoung the colorful buildings and bridges that are displayed in this gallery. The large brick building in the center flanked at each end by a high tower has fifty eight benches in recesses decorated with tiles, depicting historic episodes for each province of Spain. Some of these are featured in this gallery and those of Madrid, Toledo and Cordoba. The plaza gained international fame when it was used for some of the scenes of episode II of George Lucas' STAR WARS saga Attack of the clones Bull fighting ring- Plaza de Toros de la Maestranza The building, with its impressive Baroque façade, dates from 1762 -1881 (under a succession of architects) and was immortalized in Bizet's Carmen. The arena accommodates 14,000 and, despite its size, the acoustics allow you to hear everything wherever you're sitting. The main entrance is the Puerta del Príncipe (the Prince's Gate) with beautiful 16th-century iron gates, originally from a convent, made by Pedro Roldán. After an outstanding performance the torero (bullfighter) will be carried out through these gates on the audience's shoulders. Look out for the slight slope in the arena; it's higher in the centre than near the stalls to give the bullfighter an advantage - he can sprint downhill to get behind the barricade, while the bull has to come to a stop to avoid crashing into it.museum, which traces the sport's history from the 18th century to present day. Its collection of memorabilia includes costumes, posters and bull's heads, as well as paintings of some celebrated Sevillano toreros such as Juan Belmonte and Joselito El Gallo, whose suits worn at the tender age of 14 are on display. You also visit the chapel, dedicated to the Virgen de la Caridad, where fighters pray before entering the ring, and an infirmary - in 20 per cent of bullfights the torero needs emergency treatment. (The bulls aren't as lucky, of course. All are killed.) Famous visitors to the Maestranza include Hollywood screen legends Rita Hayworth and Orson Welles, who came to Seville in the 1960s to write and learn the sport. Palacio de San Telmo The Palacio de San Telmo, constructed in 1682 as a school for navigators, is characterized by its richly ornamented Baroque portal. After having served a number of different purposes, the building is now the official residence of the president of Andalusia. The most conspicuous part of the palace is the lavishly decorated portal. Completed in 1734 by Antonio Matias de Figueroa, the portal is defined by its large sculpted columns. Statues on either side of the balcony represent arts and sciences. The top level shows a large statue of Saint Telmo framed by an open arch. He is accompanied on his left by Saint Hermenegild and Saint Ferdinand to his right. A pediment with volutes crowns the portal. Fountains Fuente en la Plaza de Puerta de Jerez in Sevilla. The fountain is placed in the center of the Plaza where once was the Puerta de Jerez (Jerez Door), part of the city walls and replaced by another in 1846 and finally demolished in 1864. The fountain is dedicated to Sevilla and it´s the work of Manuel Delgado Brackembury in 1929. Plaza Don Juan de Austria Four seasons fountain in the Plaza Don Juan de Austria in Seville, Andaluzia - Spain. It is a monumental fountain from 1929 designed by Manuel Delgado. Square Fountain of the Four Seasons, popularly known as "Gateway". It is a monumental fountain, opened in 1929 and work of Manuel Delgado Brackenbury. The name comes from the four sculptures that surround the central body of the fountain, representing the seasons: in the north side of Spring, Summer east, south and west Autumn the Invierno. It is located near Rector of the University, the main building of the Court of Seville, and to Park Maria Luisa Plaza de Los Reyes fountain in Seville, Spain- an Old fountain near the Cathedral. At the center of the Plaza de Virgen de los Reyes stands a monumental fountain and lamppost, created by José Lafita Diaz in 1925 for the Ibero-American exposition of 1929. The water-spouting heads are replicas of Roman grotesques found in the Casa de Pilatos. Jewish Quarter The Jewish district began with the construction of a wall during medieval times that separated Jews from the rest of the city. This fence begins at Tintes street and travels through Mercedarias square until ending at Mateos Gago. In 1248, Seville was conquered by the Christians, who warmly-welcomed the Jewish population. As this society became increasingly adept, the Christian population no longer needed the money or the assistance of the Jewish people and relations grew tense. In 1391, Christian mobs ransacked the quarter and around 4,000 Jews were killed, and 5,000 Jewish families were driven from their homes. After that time, they either converted or left Spain. Those practicing Judaism that claimed to have converted to Christianity were arrested, tortured and executed- burned at the stake. In 1481, six conversos were made to publicaly confess in the cathedral and then murdered. Today, no synagogues or other Jewish institutions exist in the quarter which was located mostly in the Barrio Santa Cruz. The only Jews there now are the tourists and photographers (ie me) wondering around the narrow plazas looking into the homes of the current residents. Photos shot while on a Tauck Tour of Portugal and Spain in September, 2016. Click on the link below for more Seville travel information. Seville, Spain Travel Information