HomeEuropeLiving Up To The Hype: Seville’s Plaza de España Micki Kosman March 4, 2014 Europe, Travel Blogs 9 000101051Every traveler has been there. Stuck for hours at an over-hyped tourist attraction wishing they had spent a few more hours at some quaint place they had stumbled on down the street instead. Honestly, often a lot of the biggest attractions really don’t live up to their advance billing. But the Plaza de España in Seville, Spain was different. Standing in front of the Plaza de Espana In a city filled with gorgeous, historic architecture, I was expecting the Plaza de España to be a bit of a miss. After all, Seville is the city that houses the beautiful Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Sea, the largest Gothic cathedral and the third-largest church in the world. The city also houses the monumental Alcázar of Seville. I was expecting the Plaza de Espana, built relatively recently when Seville hosted the Ibero-American Exposition in 1929, to have a hard time comparing to its famous city mates. Plaza de Espana under a moody sky Turns out I was wrong. After all, I should have expected a place that’s been used as a film backdrop multiple times to be something worth seeing. Iconic scenes from Lawrence of Arabia (1962) were filmed here. It was also used as the backdrop for the royal planet of Naboo in Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999) and Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones (2002). The Plaza de Espana was even used as the presidential palace in Sacha Baron Cohen’s 2012 movie The Dictator. Cloudy skies over the Plaza de Espana Not only is the Plaza huge but there’s also a lot of attention to detail here. You can see this clearly in the detailed painted tiles and intricate column carvings. The sweeping scale of the place has to be experienced firsthand to truly appreciate it. But the best part about the Plaza de Espania, I think, is the part it plays in the daily lives of the citizens of Seville. Parts of the building function as public administrative offices, while the center courtyard and large, adjacent Parque de María Luisa serve as meeting spaces for Sevillanos. It’s a peaceful place, with the clip-clop of horse-drawn carriages, the splashes of the boats in the water and the sounds of people chatting filling the air. It’s a great place to spend a few hours and let your imagination, and your kids, run free. Sweeping view over the Plaza de Espana The curving facade at the Plaza de Espana Looking down the moat at the Plaza de Espana Peeking out at the Plaza de Espana Looking through the columns at the fountain at the Plaza de Espana A carriage ride in the sun at Sevelle’s Plaza de Espana Plaza de Espana from below Cobbles at the Plaza de Espana Column details Detailed tiles at the Plaza de Espana Alicante tiles Cuddling by the Barcelona tiles at the Plaza de Espana Overlooking the courtyard Peeking through the columns at the Plaza de Espana Red lion in tiles at the Plaza de Espana Pretending to be lions… 000101051 9 Responses Jen March 5, 2014 Another gorgeous thing to see and Seville. I simply cannot wait to visit in the next few years. I really looks like one of the most beautiful cities. Thanks for sharing. Jen recently posted..Where in the World Wednesday Reply Sam March 5, 2014 I felt the same way about Plaza de España. It’s just so…weird, and I loved it! I think its hype partly comes from the fact that it’s not typical: there is nowhere else like it. It’s not just another cathedral or square that’s famous because it’s famous. Sam recently posted..Best Reads: February 2014 Reply wanderingeducators March 5, 2014 What an incredibly beautiful place, and I have to say, your lion-kids are more than adorable there. Bucket list! wanderingeducators recently posted..10 Amazing Chocolate Museums Around the World Reply Heidi @WagonersAbroad March 5, 2014 Too funny that was our favorite site in Seville. We accidentally happened upon it walking from the Feria into the old town. It was the best for letting the kids just run wild and they had fun looking at all of the tiles. We of course had to find our province and walk up the tower. Oh the tiles inside the tower were gorgeous. It was a great view, but down below was wonderful too. Heidi @WagonersAbroad recently posted..5 Days of Celebration In Almuñécar – DÃa de AndalucÃa and Carnaval 2014 Reply Val-This Way To Paradise March 6, 2014 This looks awesome! I tend to avoid touristy spots just for that reason, but this looks like one that shouldn’t be missed! Val-This Way To Paradise recently posted..Letting Go Of Baggage: A Weight Loss Plan For Your “Stuff” Reply Kenin Bassart March 7, 2014 Looks fantastic, you’re gearing my wanderlust back up! Kenin Bassart recently posted..Phillips Seafood – Maryland’s Crab Ambassadors Reply Mary @ Green Global Travel March 10, 2014 This looks amazing! I’m glad it wasn’t a miss for you! 🙂 I can see why you enjoyed it. Thanks for sharing. Mary @ Green Global Travel recently posted..Green Travel Tips- The Ultimate Guide to Sustainable Travel Reply Elena March 18, 2014 Gorgeous images as usual. I have always struggled because as beautiful as Spain always looks in photos, I have never had a burning desire to go-which is strange since I love Spanish food and wine….maybe I need to reconsider my thoughts about it. Elena recently posted..Visit the American Museum of Natural History with Kids Reply Leslee Haralson April 22, 2014 Wow! Those are incredible pictures! Spain really has some amazing architecture. I have only been to Barcelona, but I look forward to returning and visiting this beautiful city. Leslee Haralson recently posted..Five Famous Christian Churches Worldwide Reply Leave a Reply Cancel Reply Your email address will not be published.CommentName* Email* Website you MUST enable javascript to be able to comment
Jen March 5, 2014 Another gorgeous thing to see and Seville. I simply cannot wait to visit in the next few years. I really looks like one of the most beautiful cities. Thanks for sharing. Jen recently posted..Where in the World Wednesday Reply
Sam March 5, 2014 I felt the same way about Plaza de España. It’s just so…weird, and I loved it! I think its hype partly comes from the fact that it’s not typical: there is nowhere else like it. It’s not just another cathedral or square that’s famous because it’s famous. Sam recently posted..Best Reads: February 2014 Reply
wanderingeducators March 5, 2014 What an incredibly beautiful place, and I have to say, your lion-kids are more than adorable there. Bucket list! wanderingeducators recently posted..10 Amazing Chocolate Museums Around the World Reply
Heidi @WagonersAbroad March 5, 2014 Too funny that was our favorite site in Seville. We accidentally happened upon it walking from the Feria into the old town. It was the best for letting the kids just run wild and they had fun looking at all of the tiles. We of course had to find our province and walk up the tower. Oh the tiles inside the tower were gorgeous. It was a great view, but down below was wonderful too. Heidi @WagonersAbroad recently posted..5 Days of Celebration In Almuñécar – DÃa de AndalucÃa and Carnaval 2014 Reply
Val-This Way To Paradise March 6, 2014 This looks awesome! I tend to avoid touristy spots just for that reason, but this looks like one that shouldn’t be missed! Val-This Way To Paradise recently posted..Letting Go Of Baggage: A Weight Loss Plan For Your “Stuff” Reply
Kenin Bassart March 7, 2014 Looks fantastic, you’re gearing my wanderlust back up! Kenin Bassart recently posted..Phillips Seafood – Maryland’s Crab Ambassadors Reply
Mary @ Green Global Travel March 10, 2014 This looks amazing! I’m glad it wasn’t a miss for you! 🙂 I can see why you enjoyed it. Thanks for sharing. Mary @ Green Global Travel recently posted..Green Travel Tips- The Ultimate Guide to Sustainable Travel Reply
Elena March 18, 2014 Gorgeous images as usual. I have always struggled because as beautiful as Spain always looks in photos, I have never had a burning desire to go-which is strange since I love Spanish food and wine….maybe I need to reconsider my thoughts about it. Elena recently posted..Visit the American Museum of Natural History with Kids Reply
Leslee Haralson April 22, 2014 Wow! Those are incredible pictures! Spain really has some amazing architecture. I have only been to Barcelona, but I look forward to returning and visiting this beautiful city. Leslee Haralson recently posted..Five Famous Christian Churches Worldwide Reply
