The artistic, cultural and financial capital of southern Spain is Seville (Sevilla). It is situated on the river Guadalquivir at an altitude of 7 meters above sea level. Seville is ranked as the fourth largest metropolitan area of Spain.

Seville was known as Hispalis during Roman times. Many people have been instrumental in its growth and it has a distinct personality with a well-preserved historic center. Seville is more than a thousand years old. In the 5th and the 6th centuries the Vandals and the Visigoths conquered it and it came under the Moors who made it an important center.

The city still retains many Moorish qualities. It remained under Muslim control till 1248 when Fernando III took over it. The city’s development continued with the construction of churches and public buildings. A golden age of development followed with the discovery of the New World (Americas) by the wealth accumulating from trade with the Spanish territories in the New World.

In the 19th and the 20th centuries Seville prospered, its population grew and so did its industrialization. Seville is a beautiful city. The cathedral built on the former site of the mosque is the largest of all medieval and Gothic cathedrals in size and volume. It has a bell tower which is topped with a statue locally known as El Giraldillo. This statue represents faith. The tower has ramps instead of stairs and people can ride to the top. The Alcazar facing the cathedral was developed from the city’s old Moorish palace. The construction, started in 1181and took over 500 years to complete. Its gardens are a blend of Moorish, Christian and Andalusian traditions.

The Town hall was built in the 16th century. The University of Seville is housed in the original site of the first tobacco factory of Europe. Seville has a lot of parks and gardens which beautify the city. The famous Alcazar gardens which are at the back of the palace are laid out in terraces, and present different types of styles, influences and plants.

Parque Maria Luisa was built in 1929 and is landscaped with attractive monuments and museums.
Seville has a Mediterranean climate with mild winters and warm summers. August is a warm month with a maximum temperature of 35 degrees centigrade. The lowest temperature recorded in Seville was –5.5 degrees centigrade on February 12, 1956 and the maximum was 46.6 degrees centigrade on July 23, 1995. A heat wave in August 2003 recorded the highest temperature at 47.2 degrees which is the highest ever in Spain and the whole of Europe. There is rainfall from October to April and a few days of frost every year.

Seville organizes the Seville fair in April and there are beautiful processions during the Holy week. Dancing, drinking and socializing are done at the fair. Women wear the traditional elaborate flamenco dresses and men dress in their best suits. Olive trees are plenty and so is the production of olive oil. Seafood and meat, vegetables and sweets form a typical Seville fare.
The flamenco dance which is also called the sevillana dance is a beautiful one with traditional folk songs with it.

Seville has made a very significant contribution to science. It houses the largest DNA Bank in Spain and stores 20,000 DNA samples. Aeronautic industry is also an important industry in Seville. Seville hosted the 1982 World Cup Semi Finals and has held the Tennis Davis Cup in 2004 and the 27th Athletics World Championships in 1999.