Seville, the capital of Andalusia in southern Spain, is famous for its main square and magnificent architecture. It’s also a city renowned for its flamenco dancing. If you’d like to discover this city, or if you’ve already discovered it but are wondering what unusual places to visit in Seville, you’ve come to the right place to find out more!
The atypical house in the Santa Cruz district
The first place that I think is a must-see in Seville is the little house located in the Santa Cruz district of Seville, at 6 Calle Mariscal. Its architecture, different from all the other buildings in the city, is well worth the detour. It’s a very flowery house, with flowers all over the balconies. The charm of this lovely house is also directly apparent in the many different species of trees in the courtyard. Under the house’s balconies, you can see the traditional Seville azulejos. Seville’s traditional wrought iron and orange bricks can also be seen around the house.
Caminito del Rey
The Caminito del Rey is an eight-kilometre route on the outskirts of Malaga in Andalusia, about a 2-hour drive from Seville. Built entirely on footbridges, it was once considered extremely dangerous. Today, of course, it has been completely refurbished and adapted to provide a totally safe passage for those wishing to use it. The view from the path is just incredible, and the sensations experienced when crossing it are just crazy, since you’re walking on footbridges over 100 meters high. You’re probably wondering why the view from Caminito del Rey is so incredible. Quite simply, the route takes you through canyons, a large valley and defiles such as the Los Gaitanes defile, which is a gorge carved out by the Guadalhorce, a river found in south-eastern Spain and mainly in Málaga. Along the way, you’ll be able to spot birds such as vultures and golden eagles, as well as ibexes and many other species that I’ll let you discover. A word of warning: this is a paying itinerary. You’ll need to buy tickets to get there, which you can find directly on the official Caminito del rey website.
1992 Seville World’s Fair website
For the 1992 World’s Fair, which came to an end on October 12, 1992, the city of Seville made 215 hectares of land available for the event. The theme of the exhibition was “The Age of Discovery”, to celebrate the 500th anniversary of the discovery of America. The site was designed using ephemeral constructions, of which there were 102 at the time of the exhibition. Although some pavilions were demolished, 32 remain today. However, the remaining structures and the space dedicated to the 1992 World’s Fair are unfortunately no longer showcased and have not been well preserved. Some of the pavilions have now been reused, as have major avenues such as Avenida de Europa, Avenida del Agua and Avenida de los Arces. As the 1992 exhibition was on the theme of discoveries, each pavilion referred to a specific discovery. Today, the pavilions are no longer used with their theme, but some of them have served as the basis for other creations, as in the case of the Autonomous Communities and the Lake of Spain, which served as an example to build the theme park called Isla Magica in Seville. There are many other pavilions to discover on site, such as the French, Finnish and Italian pavilions, which are the largest after the Spanish and one of the best preserved despite the passage of time, or the Moroccan pavilion, which is the best preserved at the request of King Hassan II. The Fujitsu pavilion was truly one of the stars of the 1992 exhibition, as it housed a 3D film that everyone wanted to see, and the queue to get in was never-ending. As you can see, there’s still a lot to see and discover at the 1992 World’s Fair in Seville, but so as not to spoil too much, I’ll let you discover the other pavilions for yourself. For me, it really is still an unusual place to visit and discover.
Jardines de las delicias
The “Jardines de las delicias”, which used to be called “Les Promenades de Bellaflor”, is also an unusual and fun place to discover. The gardens are located in the Maria Luisa Park and are among the oldest in Seville, created in the first half of the 19th century. These are gardens with a romantic inspiration. What more could you ask for? For me, it’s an ideal place to stroll as a couple, but also to stroll alone in the alleys of the various gardens. The name was changed in the 19th century by José Manuel de Arjona, who was one of Seville’s highest municipal authorities at the time. It’s a beautiful garden with many trees of different shapes and species. The gardens are also home to various statues with different meanings. The gardens form a triangle of over 54,000m2. Take a stroll and discover the beauty of the place.
El rinconcillo: historically Seville’s oldest bar
In addition to cultural outings, there are also some unusual places to go out in Seville. One of these is del rinconcillo, Seville’s oldest bar/restaurant. It offers a wide range of tapas and typical Spanish dishes, as well as an extensive wine list. There’s something for everyone in this bar. It’s located right in the center of Seville. In my opinion, it’s an unusual place, because it’s very surprising and original to discover this exceptional place, which is still historic since it dates back to the 17th century. I’m sure you’ll find what you’re looking for here, and have a great time!
Seville’s bicicleteria: one of the most hidden bars
The bicicleteria is also an unusual must-see in Seville, as it’s a totally hidden place that you wouldn’t even know existed if you walked past it. The locals also call this bar “La bici”, so if you’re ever in Seville and hear that term, you’ll know straight away that this is the bicicleteria. The bar is so little known and, above all, so hidden that you generally have to know the locals to be able to get there. But let me tell you, it’s located on Calle Feria in Seville, at number 36 to be exact. Even if you walk past the bar at night, only the most observant will realize that behind the doors is a bar, as there’s nothing to show for it on the outside. At La Bici, the atmosphere is bohemian and wallet-friendly, as drinks on the premises are not expensive. The bar also organizes small concerts from time to time, so maybe you’ll be lucky enough to get there on a concert day and enjoy the surrounding atmosphere.
The Beta library
This bookshop is simply breathtaking. Part of a chain of bookshops, it is a classic of Seville’s cultural life. Not only can you find a huge number of books and a great deal of variety in this bookshop, but you’ll also be impressed, I think above all, by the architecture of the building. The bookshop is housed in a building that was once an imperial theater dating back to the 20th century. It’s really a singular and atypical architecture that you won’t find in any other bookshop. As you can see, I had to tell you about it for the architecture alone.
By now, you’re familiar with a few unusual places to discover and do in Spain, and more specifically in Seville, ranging from cultural outings to bars/restaurants and places with exceptional architecture. If you’d like to find out more, the HI team would be delighted to hear from you. And if that’s what you’re looking for, and you’d like to discover even more about this city by doing an internship, don’t hesitate to contact us!