Just saying the name, Seville, evokes a passionate, sultry craving. It’s almost a crime to pronounce it in English. The LL’s just don’t work do they? You really need the LL’s to be pronounced as a Y. Sevi – YYYAA. It evokes the rhythm of a slow strum Spanish guitar in a barely lit restaurant after dark while the intense heat of the Andalusian sun fades into the night. Sevi-YYA. When you dream of Spain, this is the city that comes to mind.
Some Spanish History for Context
65 million years ago when Pangea was breaking apart, the Iberian Peninsula separated from the North American plate. It twisted counterclockwise helping to form the Bay of Biscay and collided with France as it was drawn towards the Eurasian plate. The collision formed the Pyrenees mountains, a natural border between Spain and France. Seville is in the southernmost portions of Spain. The Strait of Gibraltar separates Europe from Africa by a mere 9 miles and it’s only 134 miles away from the city.
We tend to think of Spain as just another country in Europe. The land itself once was closer to North America than Europe. Africans from North Africa, known as the Moors, ruled parts of this area for almost 800 years. It wasn’t until a very familiar year in American history, 1492, that marked the end of the Moorish rule in Spain. Food, culture, architecture, language and agricultural practices have all been heavily influenced by the Moors.
While we Americans like to think of ourselves as a melting pot of society. We certainly have a beautiful diversity to work with and build a culture. I think we need another 600 years or so to work it out and see what we become though. The Spanish spirit has been simmering for thousands of years, rich with history and passion–now it’s ready to ignite into an unforgettable experience.
Arrival
Upon arrival in Seville we were buzzing with excitement. At the metro stop, we tried to buy tickets from the machine–we paid the fare, but only a receipt printed out. I was pressing all kinds of buttons and nothing seemed to work. Technically, we had no tickets, no clear instructions, and we were unsure of how to proceed. We boarded anyway, nervously hoping for the best.
Everything seemed fine until the second-to-last stop, when several officers with handheld scanners stepped onto the tram. They looked official–definitely the type who could issue fines–in Spanish no less. We glanced at each other, asked what should we do? At that moment, we both silently looked at each other and agreed, but I had to make it official by exclaiming “no, this is our stop, we need to get off here”. Half-laughing, half-sprinting into the unknown we hopped off the tram as if that was our stop!
Wow. Yeah. That was our introduction! We then decided we could walk. With smiles on our faces and an excitement in the air we started the trek to the hotel. It wasn’t long before it started to rain, then downpour. We quickly found safe refuge under a bus stop and began to ponder our life choices. It took us about 25 mins. with bags in tow to reach the hotel. Upon arrival, we must’ve looked rather distraught with wet hair and faces that had just dragged bags through city streets for a mile. The front desk clerk took a look at us and asked, “could the cab not find the hotel?”. We laughed but we had made it, and we were here. This was an incredibly beautiful city, and we couldn’t wait to get started.
Flamenco
Flamenco originated from this area. It is a mesmerizing combination of guitar playing, singing, and dance. It’s very rhythmic nature transcends language. Powerful and expressive movements tell stories of love, loss and social discord. In 2010, UNESCO recognized flamenco as part of the World’s Intangible Cultural Heritage and when you are in Seville, I highly recommend going to see a show in person. It’s a must. We chose dinner and a show. I have a couple of brief clips below for you. Flamenco at El Palacio Andaluz is where we went and I highly recommend it while in Seville.
Seville Cathedral
This Catholic Cathedral is one of the largest churches in the world and the largest Gothic Cathedral. Construction began in 1402, and it was completed in 1519. Builders preserved some elements from the ancient mosque previously onsite. Today, this is the city’s most iconic and well-known symbol. Our hotel was just a couple of blocks from the Cathedral, so we were able to use it as a landmark during our adventures to meander the narrow streets and corridors back to the hotel. The views are stunning both night and day.
Food & Wine
Talk about a sensory celebration–welcome to Seville. Fresh, simple yet bold and vibrant ingredients come together to create traditional Spanish Mediterranean cuisine. Tapas rule the table. Fresh local ingredient shine with each bite bursting with flavor. And the wine–oh the wine. I may have mentioned Spanish wine once or twice before. 🙂 It’s affordable and full of bold flavors that only Spain can mass produce. Fresh seafood, paella, jamon Iberico to one of my all-time favorites, gambas al ajillo, I crave the food and wine. I’m addicted. How many Spanish croquettes can you have? Is there a record? I may have hit it.
Secret Food Tour
On day 2 in Seville, we booked the Secret Food Tour. Once again, we had an amazing guide who led the tour around the city. Her name was Camila. Seville is quite spread out, so this one included a good amount of walking. On every tour they always have a surprise for you with food and something ‘secret’ about the city. We walked close to a mile on this tour and were able to get a good feel for the city on both sides of the river. Along the way, we saw live Flamenco being performed on the street and had a wide variety of interesting dishes from local spots.
The city feels like an architectural museum–a blend of Moorish, Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque styles, woven together in the sun-bathed mosaic of beauty. Delicate arches, lush courtyards and open plazas echo centuries of Islamic artistry. Every corner reveals another layer of its rich, romantic past, etched in the facades and balconies along the narrow streets. It’s easy to get turned around. The streets are so narrow that pedestrians have to seek refuge in small entry ways while a car passes. On our way back to the airport the taxi literally had one side of tires on the curb and had to tuck in the side mirrors just to make it through these narrow corridors. It’s charming and romantic every step of the way.
All of this is why you need to visit Seville once in your lifetime. It’s Romance. It’s decadence and everything you dreamed it would be. The scent of orange blossoms, the sight of historic architecture around every corner and your taste buds on overload. I can’t wait to walk the narrow cobblestone streets again in search of some amazing tapas and wine.
Virtual Spanish Wine Tasting & Paella Cooking Class
We were able to spend close to a month in Spain this Spring. It has inspired a couple of our Virtual Spanish events. On Fri., Oct. 24 I will be teaching you how to make Traditional Spanish Paella. I’ll have a couple of options for you that includes all of your ingredients delivered to your home and one that allows you to purchase them on your own. The Virtual event is designed to have you cooking in your kitchen alongside me demonstrating the instructions and using the equipment that you already have in your kitchen. It’s a humble dish perfect for sharing with friends and family. Together, let’s have a glass of wine, share some laughs and make some tasty Paella! Yes, You Can Make Paella!
We also have scheduled 3 sessions of our Virtual Spanish Wine Tasting on Sat., Oct. 25. The price of $75 per person includes 3 bottles of wine (min. 2 people). Locally, in the Dallas Fort-Worth metro area, we will arrange delivery of the wine. For customers outside of the DFW area, due to shipping laws, we will work with you on where the wines can be purchased and have a different price for you. All wine tastings are limited to customers 21 and older.
For all of our events, please email us. Let us know which sessions you are interested in, and we will work with you to make it as convenient as possible and allow you to join in all of the Spanish fun! More information is available at https://foodwinetravelguys.com/
Related Spanish Blogs:
Madrid: https://foodwinetravelguys.com/savoring-madrid-a-feast-of-flavor-and-timeless-charm/
Barcelona Food & Wine: https://foodwinetravelguys.com/a-feast-for-the-senses-barcelonas-vibrant-food-and-wine-scene/
City of Barcelona: https://foodwinetravelguys.com/barcelona-the-moxy-the-allure-why-you-need-to-go/
Cartagena: https://foodwinetravelguys.com/2600-years-of-history-a-front-row-parking-space/