This was our cultural day in Sevilla. We focused on the Seville Cathedral (The Cathedral of Saint Mary of the See) and the Royal Alcazar (palace) of Sevilla.
Firstly, we made our way through the narrow alleyways to meet our guide. We could have spent hours there as so much to see and very unique area. Can’t believe they drive cars down a lot of these thoroughfares but that is why they drive with their wing mirrors tucked in. We were most intrigued by this window with religious vestments for sale – this has to be a first. No nun out fits but guess that might mean it was a sex shop🤪. No prices either.
Lots more flamingo dresses for sale and this is all in preparation for the Fair of Seville beginning on Sunday. Our timing in Seville could not have been better as we have been very fortunate through our friends here to be invited to a unique experience on Sunday. We won’t spoil they surprise for now. What we will mention is that it is a little bit like the Calgary Stampede where everyone dresses up in cowboy hats, big buckles, boots, very short shorts and checked shirts. Everyone here though gets dressed in flamingo dresses with all the accoutrements such as shawls, fans, flowers in the hair and tap shoes. The guys – not so much🤪
We will go into that more on the weekend, so we shall return to today being a more cultural experience.
Once at the cathedral we were sent up the tower which included 34 ramps and 17 steps. Ramps made it so much easier. Our steps are paying off as we cruised up very easily.
At the top we got a very good 360 view of Sevilla.
It is interesting when you have travelled around a bit as to how each country likes to claim it has the biggest of this or that and of course cathedrals are the number one item. So, in Europe, the Seville Cathedral comes in at number three after St Peters in Rome and St Paul’s in London. But…..
it does have the biggest altar and it is not just immense but very intricate and gilded with many tons of gold leaf. The history of this cathedral is complicated as is most of Spanish culture especially when you had Romans, Muslims, Jewish and Catholics involved. Somehow, taking out the Romans, the other three have co-existed in harmony for centuries. The cathedral is currently catholic but was originally built on Roman buildings by the Muslims…….hmmm, just a little mind bending.
This is the people’s altar which is a third the size it was originally was. You can get an idea of the dimension by the two guys up there polishing the silver. That would not be the pick of the jobs in the church. Christopher Columbus’s tomb is also in the church which didn’t turn out real well in our photos, but there is some conjecture as to whether it is really there or not. When Napoleon was advancing into northern Spain, they moved his body from there to another spot in Spain and then had to move it again for the same reason. Finally, they found a resting spot for it in Sevilla and hence the uncertain as to whether it is really in the Sevilla cathedral or not.
It was then around the corner to the Royal Alcazar Palace. The palace includes Gothic as well as Renaissance elements. It is the same as they church in that it has had many iterations due to its varied ownership. The upper stories are still occupied by the royal family when they visit Sevilla. In 1987 it was registered by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.
It is very difficult to portray the true visuals of these places and give them the respect they deserve. Let’s just say, the artisan work is exquisite.
After being on our feet for three hours it was time for a sit sound and yet more food. From left to right it was egg tempura with an exquisite sauce, then apple and prawn salad followed by a zucchini, tomato, goat cheese salad – what is not to like about that!!!
We finished our day off by returning to Melanie and Chris’s for a relaxing evening around a lovely dinner of home prepared and cooked tuna.
Steps today, which is truly weird, is exactly the same as yesterday at 12,216.
So in these first seven days in Spain, we have walked 107,725 steps or average of 15,389 – that s not too bad at all.
Might not be a blog tomorrow as we are having some downtime watching Quentin play football and maybe having a game of paddle ball and a swim in the pool. TBA.
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