Although known by the majority of Sevillians, its hidden location in the middle of the hustle and bustle of the city gives it a somewhat magical charm. 

The two entrances permit access to this little square, and both are almost imperceptible. The first one is found in the Avenue de la Constitution, in front of the Cathedral, by a gated passageway. The second is situated next to Gate of Oil, also by a passage, this time clearer.

The Cabildo square is a hidden semi-circular space, with painted murals on its arches and an enclosed by an old wall with a fountain in the centre. This space breaks off completely from the styles that surround it, creating an intimate area to connect with the essence of Seville. 

To get to know its history we should keep in mind another door, also in the Avenida de la Constitution but this doesn’t give access to the square and it looks like it’s been there for a lot longer than the creation of the Avenida.

This is the door to the historical San Miguel School which, located in front of the cathedral, had the role of educating young people to form part of the church. The Cabildo Square was the former interior courtyard and was named after Cathedral Chapter (Cabildo) School it belonged to.  

Like many things in the 20^th century, the San Miguel School, which had been preserved until this point, was demolished. It was more proof of the local government’s lack of concern about the heritage of the city. Only the entrance, the door to the Avenida de la Constitucion, was left to bear witness to an institution which no one remembers anyway.

The current decoration, with the fresco paintings, we owe to the artist Joaquín Barquín Barrón, who knew how to give the plaza a new beauty. The rest of its appeal is no other than the part of the Almohad wall, one of the few that were conserved -this time it was the 19^th century’s demolition fever that caused its demolition- and the fountain next to it.

The result is an interior courtyard with its own personality which transports the visitor to a place of peace, a different Seville right in the centre of the city.

Images source: 1 – 6 (section 3)