From stunning architecture, scorching heat, bitter oranges and Christopher Columbus, these fun facts about Seville will be sure to amaze you!
Did you know that mythological legend states that Seville was founded by the god Hercules? And what an impressive city to have discovered!
Situated in Southern Spain in the region of Andalusia, Seville is home to some of the most awe-inspiring monuments in all of Europe. There’s gothic cathedrals, impressive palaces, and innovative modern architecture.
And if landmarks aren’t your scene, well the food surely will be! With a rich tradition of Spanish cuisine, from gazpacho to Andalusian sausage and delectable pastries, you can eat your way through the Pearl of the Guadalquivir.
We have got so many fun facts about Seville for you today. From the tomb of Christopher Columbus, to the setting for the most indelible operas, and the city’s obsession with the world of sports. There really is something for everyone here.
Also, did you know that Game of Thrones was filmed in Seville? The famous water gardens of Dorne were filmed in the interior courtyards of the Alcázar of Seville. We knew we recognized it from somewhere!
We’ll also talk a little bit about football, extreme heat, Flamenco, and the Latin Grammys.
Have we peaked your interest in Seville yet? Keep reading these Seville facts and we bet you’ll be booking the next flight to the capital of Andalusia!
Contents:
21 Fun Facts About Seville
1. Seville or Sevilla?
While the anglicized world refers to the city as Seville, if you want to sound like a local you can use the Spanish equivalent Sevilla.
In fact, the name Seville comes from the French language, so it’s probably best to call it Sevilla when you’re actually in the city. And why not call Spain, España while you’re on a roll!
2. Was Seville a Roman city?
Yes, Seville was once a significant city in the Roman Empire known as Hispalis. After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, Seville was ruled by the Visigoths and then the Moors, before the Spanish Christian Reconquista in the 13th century.
3. The UNESCO Heritage Site in Seville
Three buildings make up the UNESCO Heritage Site in Seville. First is the Seville Cathedral (Catedral de Santa Maria de la Sede), one of the oldest Gothic cathedrals in the world.
Second is the Alcázar of Seville, a palace complex with a mix of Moorish, Gothic and Renaissance architecture. Third is the Archivo de Indias, an archive featuring documents from the Spanish colonies in the Americas.
4. Fun facts about Seville’s population
Seville is the fourth-largest city in Spain with over 700,000 inhabitants. The majority of Seville’s population is Catholic, but the diversity of the city is growing with each generation.
Seville is known for a diverse economy with many job opportunities. Most people in Seville work in the tourism, aerospace, agriculture, trade, education and energy sectors.
5. A unique Spanish port
The Port of Seville is the only Spanish port located inland on a river. The Guadalquivir River was an important route during the Spanish exploration in the 15th and 16th centuries, allowing Seville to be one the first cities to lay their eyes on treasures coming in from the Americas.
6. A famous explorer’s tomb
Due to recent DNA testing it has been confirmed that Christopher Columbus’ remains are buried in the Seville Cathedral.
This discovery ended a years-long dispute with the Dominican Republic who also claimed to be the final resting place of the 15th century explorer.
7. Other names for Seville
As one of the most important Spanish cities, Seville has collected a few nicknames over its centuries-long existence.
Some of these nicknames include the City of Grace, The Pearl of the Guadalquivir, The Frying Pan of Spain, The Cradle of Flamenco and The Capital of the South.
8. The impressive building made of wood
The Metropol Parasol is one of the largest wooden structures ever created and is a can’t miss attraction when visiting Seville.
Known affectionately as “Las Setas” (The Mushrooms) the design, completed in 2011, was built by German architect Jürgen Mayer. The building is also illuminated at night creating a vivid viewing experience.
9. What’s the weather like in Seville?
Seville is one of Europe’s hottest cities – remember that nickname we mentioned earlier? The Frying Pan of Spain?
Well, Seville comes by that moniker honestly, with heatwaves in July and August routinely reaching scorching temperatures above 104°F (40°C). When visiting Seville make sure to stay hydrated! We’ve been in summer before and it is so hot!
10. An unmatched Gothic cathedral
If you’re a fan of Gothic architecture or just impressive architecture in general, you have to see the Seville Cathedral. The exterior is crafted with stonework, sculptures and decoration unrivaled anywhere else in Europe.
And the inside is equally as monumental with soaring columns and unique features. The cathedral took over 200 years to complete with ongoing construction from 1401 to 1618.
11. A city of oranges
Growing along the avenues and streets in Seville are their famous bitter oranges. Too bitter to eat raw, Seville oranges are exported worldwide to make marmalades, liqueurs, and perfumes.
In April every year a festival, the Feria de Sevilla, is held to celebrate these oranges.
12. The football teams of Seville
Two professional football teams compete in La Liga in Seville. There’s Sevilla FC, founded in 1890, one of Spain’s oldest football teams.
The other is Real Betis Balompié, founded in 1907. The La Liga rivalry between these two teams is one of the most highly contested in all of Spanish football, known as the Seville Derby.
13. Will Seville host the Olympics?
Seville has put in several bids to become the host of the Summer Olympics but has yet to be successful. Both in 2004 and 2008 Seville made it to the top-10 bids, however did not move on to official voting as a bid city.
14. An epicenter for opera
The romance, history, culture and scenic beauty of Seville has inspired artists and composers for centuries. So it’s no surprise that three of the most famous operas to bless our ears have been set in Seville.
These operas include Georges Bizet’s ‘Carmen’, Gioachino Rossini’s ‘The Barber of Seville’, and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s ‘Don Giovanni’.
15. Does Seville have any sister cities?
Everyone wants to be associated with Seville, and can you blame them? Some of Seville’s sistered and twinned cities include; Angers (France), Buenos Aires (Argentina), Columbus (USA), Guadalajara (Mexico), Havana (Cuba) and San Salvador (El Salvador).
16. Seville as a filming location
With its dramatic architecture and mixture of Moorish and Venetian influence, Seville is a sought after location for filming movies and television.
Some of the biggest films and series to have scenes filmed in Seville include Star Wars Episode 2: Attack of the Clones, Lawrence of Arabia, Mission Impossible 2, and Game of Thrones.
17. The home of the Latin Grammys
For the first time in history, the 2023 Latin Grammy Awards were hosted outside of the United States. Seville welcomed stars like Shakira, Rosalia and Maluma to the FIBES Conference and Exhibition Centre on November 16th, with Shakira and Karol G taking home the most awards.
18. Famous sports events hosted in Seville
Seville is a sport-obsessed city and has had the opportunity to host some of the biggest championships in the world of sport. This includes the World Athletics Championships in 1999, The UEFA European Championship in 2020, and The Billie Jean King Cup in 2023.
In 2030, Seville is expected to be one of the Spanish host cities for the FIFA World Cup co-hosted with Portugal and Morocco
19. What to eat in Seville
There’s a guarantee that when you visit Seville you won’t leave hungry. Known for its Andalusian cuisine make sure you try some of these local favorites.
Gazpacho, a cold tomato-based soup. Tapas, an assortment of small appetizers for sharing. Flamenquin, breaded pork wrapped around cheese. Pestiños, honey-glazed pastries. Okay, now we’re drooling.
20. Make sure to visit this palace
The Real Alcazar de Sevilla is a must-see on your travels to Seville. We guarantee you’ll be blown away by its beauty and transported back in time.
The Greek god Mercury stands in the centre of the Mercury Pond with lush palm and orange trees surrounding it. Out further from the pond is the Water Garden which includes numerous stunning water features.
21. Seville’s the home of flamenco
The expressive dance and pulse-quickening music of Flamenco is a Spanish marvel and Seville is at the center of it.
Flamenco was created by the gypsy population of Andalusia and Seville became the epicenter for this famous Spanish art form. Seville today hosts numerous Flamenco festivals throughout the year.
Who wants more fun facts?
If you’re looking for some recommendations, these are a few of our favorite fact books to buy. We use these when planning fun trivia nights with family and friends!
We really hope you enjoyed all our fun facts about Seville! Did you learn something new?
If there’s any Seville facts we missed, you can let us know in the comments below and we’ll add them to this article!
