Jardines de Murillo
Today felt like a day off. We were to stay in Seville and didn’t have to catch a bus, train, or plane. It was also a day off for the Spanish––October 12 is their National Day, but in Spain, it is not Columbus Day. We walked from our hotel through the Jardines de Murillo on our way to the Plaza de Espana.
Jardines de Murillo
Jardines de Murillo
Like many places in Seville, this park is rich in tile work, Spanish structures, and statues, making it quite a nice walk through it.
Jardines de Murillo
Jardines de Murillo
Tile work in the garden.
Jardines de Murillo
Jardines de Murillo
Fountain and tiles.
Jardines de Murillo
Jardines de Murillo
Beautiful tiled bench.
Jardines de Murillo
Jardines de Murillo
Interesting structure.
Jardines de Murillo
Jardines de Murillo
Close–up of the tiled mural.
Jardines de Murillo
Jardines de Murillo
Close–up of the monument.
Jardines de Murillo
Jardines de Murillo
Close–up of the lion.
Jardines de Murillo
Jardines de Murillo
Another tiled bench.
Jardines de Murillo
On the Way to the Plaza de Espana
A statue in the middle of a busy street.
On the Way to the Plaza de Espana
On the Way to the Plaza de Espana
Horses and buggies lined up.
On the Way to the Plaza de Espana
On the Way to the Plaza de Espana
Souvenir stand right outside the Plaza de Espana.
On the Way to the Plaza de Espana
Plaza de Espana
The Spanish Pavilion in the Plaza de Espana was part of the 1929 International Fair held in Seville. I thought it was absolutely beautiful––the buildings, the tiles, the views, etc. I have put my photos of the Plaza de Espana on a slide show on this website: Go to Slide Shows, Western Europe, Spain–2, “Seville: Plaza de Espana.”
Plaza de Espana
Plaza de Espana
We were quite surprised when we saw these Indians in the Plaza de Espana. I thought they were American Indians, but Merrie asked and found out that they were from Peru. Anyway, they were an unexpected sight here in Seville. I have put a movie clip of their music on this website: Go to Movies, Western Europe, Spain, “Indian Music at Plaza de Espana, Seville.” You will also get a panoramic view of the Plaza de Espana when you view the movie clip.
Plaza de Espana
Seville Walk
After walking around the Plaza de Espana, Merrie and I split up as she wanted to go right to the Cathedral and I wanted to go in search of some of the beautiful buildings that we saw on the Hop–on Hop–off bus we took on Monday. However, I walked in the wrong direction and found myself back in the Barrio Santa Cruz. Photo: Statues seen on my walk.
Seville Walk
Seville Walk
A flamenco venue.
Seville Walk
Seville Walk
Well, at least I saw one of the interesting buildings that I was looking for.
Seville Walk
Seville Walk
Back in the Barrio Santa Cruz. I had not been in this section before so it was interesting.
Seville Walk
Seville Walk
This ceramic store looked inviting.
Seville Walk
Seville Walk
The ceramics in this store were much different from the ones we had seen in the more traditional stores.
Seville Walk
Seville Walk
I had been looking for a Spanish–style clock to put into my new basement gym and the one in this photo, though looking more Mexican–style, was absolutely perfect. I also bought the lizard. Now all I would have to figure out is how to carry them home. The first step was to take them back to my hotel, which I did next.
Seville Walk
Seville Walk
After depositing my new treasures in my hotel room, I started out again––this time to visit the Cathedral. Photo: Tiled mural on a wall seen on my walk.
Seville Walk
Seville Walk
An interesting top of a building.
Seville Walk
Seville Walk
When we were in this area on Monday, Merrie and I discovered a great Spanish pottery store. We both wanted to return to it, but the two times that we did go back to it, it was closed. Today it was open. By now, I had learned that if you see something in a store in Spain that you want to buy, buy it then as you never know when that store will be open again. There doesn’t appear to be set opening and closing times for stores in Spain––they are open only when the store owners or help feel like opening the store. I picked out several plates to bring back as gifts and, of course, now I would either have to go back again to my hotel or carry them along with me to the Cathedral. I chose to carry them. I had expected to see more Mexican–style Talavera pottery in Spain, but the Spanish pottery is quite different. Photo: One of the plates that I bought.
Seville Walk
Seville Walk
And I found another store open that I had been in previously and likewise had also found closed the next two times I passed it. So I bought fans as gifts here and also some posters. I framed the posters when I got home, but the fans and the posters and the ceramics did load me down. Photo: One of the posters that I bought.
Seville Walk
Seville Walk
Another of the posters.
Seville Walk
Seville Walk
And another.
Seville Walk
Seville Cathedral and Giralda Tower
The Seville Cathedral and Giralda Tower at the end of my walk.
Seville Cathedral and Giralda Tower
Giralda Tower
The Giralda Tower was originally a Moorish minaret, but was converted into a bell tower for the Cathedral after the Moors were defeated.
Giralda Tower
Giralda Tower
Close–up of the top of the tower.
Giralda Tower
Giralda Tower
The statue on top of the tower represents a “Triumph of Faith.”
Giralda Tower
Seville Cathedral
Entrance to the Cathedral. The Seville Cathedral is the third largest church in Europe and the world’s largest Gothic church. It started being built in 1401 and the building of it continued for another 120 years.
Seville Cathedral
Seville Cathedral
Another view of the entrance.
Seville Cathedral
Seville Cathedral
Inside the Cathedral.
Seville Cathedral
Seville Cathedral
The Cathedral’s main attraction: the tomb of Christopher Columbus. His casket is carried by four kings––of Castile, Aragon, Leon, and Navarre. I can’t think of a more thrilling thing to have seen on this day––our Columbus Day, October 12.
Seville Cathedral
Seville Cathedral
You go up a ramp to view the casket up closer. View from the back.
Seville Cathedral
Seville Cathedral
View from the side.
Seville Cathedral
Seville Cathedral
View from the front. DNA testing has proved that this is the tomb of Christopher Columbus. He was first buried in Spain, then in the Dominican Republic, next in Cuba, and then finally back again in Seville. However, the Dominican Republic still claims that Christopher Columbus’ bones are buried in Santa Domingo, Dominican Republic.
Seville Cathedral
Seville Cathedral
1788 clock above the tomb of Christopher Columbus.
Seville Cathedral
Seville Cathedral
Seville Cathedral seen from the top of the Columbus ramp.
Seville Cathedral
Seville Cathedral
Inside the Cathedral.
Seville Cathedral
Seville Cathedral
Inside the Cathedral.
Seville Cathedral
Seville Cathedral
Inside the Cathedral.
Seville Cathedral
Seville Cathedral
Inside the Cathedral.
Seville Cathedral
Seville Cathedral
Inside the Cathedral.
Seville Cathedral
Seville Cathedral
Inside the Cathedral.
Seville Cathedral
Seville Cathedral
Inside the Cathedral.
Seville Cathedral
Seville Cathedral
Inside the Cathedral.
Seville Cathedral
Seville Cathedral
Inside the Cathedral.
Seville Cathedral
Seville Cathedral
Inside the Cathedral.
Seville Cathedral
Seville Cathedral
The High Altar. This is the largest altarpiece ever made––65 feet tall. It depicts 44 scenes from the life of Jesus.
Seville Cathedral
Seville Cathedral
Another view of the High Altar.
Seville Cathedral
Seville Cathedral
One of the panels of the High Altar.
Seville Cathedral
Seville Cathedral
Another panel of the High Altar.
Seville Cathedral
Outside the Seville Cathedral
A view of the Plaza Virgin de los Reyes from the exit from the Cathedral.
Outside the Seville Cathedral
Outside the Seville Cathedral
Horses lined up outside the Cathedral.
Outside the Seville Cathedral
Giralda Tower
A view of Giralda Tower from an arch in the Alcazar.
Giralda Tower
Outside the Seville Cathedral
Tired tourists in the Plaza Virgen de los Reyes.
Outside the Seville Cathedral
Outside the Seville Cathedral
I needed to go back to my hotel to drop all my purchases off and also needed some lunch, which I ate at the cafe near our hotel. This was National Day, which looked more like Spanish party day. The streets were very crowded––I don’t know if this poor woman driver ever was able to move her car through the crowd. The rest of my photos from this day are on Day 10(B), Seville.
