Plaza de España
ATTRACTION Keywords:
People Watching,
Popular with Locals,
Plaza / Square
The Plaza de España is a magnificently proportioned semi-circular space designed for the Ibero-American World's Fair of 1929. It's edged by buildings and tile patterns that blend a Deco sensibility with traditional techniques.
If it looks familiar, it may be because you've seen it acting as a backdrop in Star Wars II: Attack of the Clones.
At the Plaza's center is an impressive fountain, and edging the buildings are little moats that you cross over elegant bridges. Next to the Plaza is the Maria Luisa Park, with its orange trees and formal gardens. These days the buildings in the Plaza are used by the government.
One of the loveliest reasons to take a stroll in the Plaza de España is the tiled alcoves, each depicting the history of a different province of Spain. They're lovely in and of themselves, and they also attract visitors from all over Spain who want to be photographed against their home province's alcove; a great people-watching opportunity!
Latest Reviews
Review by mm4peace, April 2013
Doing what: Seville Electric Bike Tour
Riding and electric bike for this tour is one of the most fun things that I have done in a long time. The tour guide was very knowledgeable about Seville and Spain history and culture. He provided a variety of information including details about the 1929
Spain and Latin American fair, movies filmed at famous locations in Seville, local plants and trees, cathedrals, and so on. It was really fun riding through beautiful Seville on the electric bikes--the best of both worlds--the breeze in your face, but a small amount of exersion. Highly recommended.,
Review by riobella, April 2013
Doing what: Seville In One Day: Santa Cruz Quarter, Royal Alcazar Palace, Seville Cathedral, Royal Maestranza Bullring and River Cruise
Our guide was so passionate and knowledgeable about this city, which really made this tour quite enjoyable. While it's very easy to show yourself around town, his narration really made it worth going on the tour.There were two less-than-stellar points; 1) waiting to enter Alcazar and then the amount of time inside the palace - too long. Since these palaces are not furnished like many castles are, the tours can really be much shorter, and become tiring. If I had it to do again, I would end the tour before entering Alcazar, find out when the lines are the shortest and go on my own. 2) The river cruise after lunch has nothing to see but bridges built in 1931 and is very short with rather unsightly scenery. By the time we got to the Bull Ring, we decided to go home and skip it altogether. I do highly recommend the morning portion, though.
Review by donald.waskett, December 2012
Doing what: Seville City Hop-on Hop-off Tour
My husband is in a wheelchair so it was good that we could see as much of the city as possible with out me having to push him around
Practical Info
The Plaza de Espana is close to the river, in the Centro Histórico. If you walk south down the river from the Bullring or the Torre del Oro, you'll come across Maria Luisa Park. Head left to the park and you'll hit the Plaza.
