Seville’s most charming neighbourhood.

Precisely because of this, it’s normal for it to be full of tourists. But this shouldn’t dampen the walk for its many nooks and crannies are so beautiful its appeal prevails anyway.

The Jewish quarter

This is the neighbourhood located next to the Alcazar and the Cathedral; it was built and lived in by the Arabs, and was then converted into the Jewish quarter, that’s to say, a place surrounded by walls where the Sephardi Jews lived in the late middle ages until their expulsion, leaving legends of these persecutions between its streets. After this it was inhabited by the Christian population, and the synagogues were converted into churches.

A charming neighbourhood

It’s characterised by a combination of labyrinthine and intricate streets, where it’s easy to get lost, but also easy to delight in, thanks to its colours, smells, and the quantity of hidden squares and courtyards. It’s so integrated in the Sevillian culture that the majority of the story of Don Juan Tenorio happens in this neighbourhood, and so what many do, is follow the footprints of this famous character.

Formally, the Sevillian Jewish quarter encompassed more space than what the neighbourhood of Santa Cruz is today, but because of the 1929 Iber-Americana Exhbition this part of the city was renovated and adapted for the visitors, combining all the Sevillian and folkloric appeal it has today.

But the neighbourhood isn’t just lovely streets and squares. In it are places like the Hospital de los Venerables, a building from the 17^th Century with a spectacular church; the Santa Maria la Blanca Church, whose peculiarity is to have hosted 3 different religions; the centre for the interpretation of the Jewish or Santa Cruz Square where somewhere below rest the remains of the painter Murillo. 

Names like the Plaza de Doña Elvira -Ms Elvira Square-, la Calle del Beso -Kiss street-, la Calle Cruces -Crosses Street- or Pimienta -pepper- encourage you to discover the history that’s there are in its streets.

El sol duerme en Triana, y la luna en Santa Cruz.

los del río, sevillian composers

Images source: 25 -35 (section 3)