Sevillano Sights

Week 2 is coming to a close here in Sevilla, and I think the two best words to sum it up are "blazingly hot." It is still very much summer here, with the temperature reaching an average high of 97 degrees. I am managing to beat the heat however, and have completely embraced the southern spanish tradition of the "siesta," or mid-afternoon nap when the sun is at its highest point. My Señora says that by mid-october temperatures will be in the mid 70's, lower 80's, and I cannot wait for that "cool" weather!

This week I started my intensive language class on the culture and history of Spain. It was a lot of information jammed in to 4 days, and I am slightly concerned about my midterm on culture and architecture tomorrow, but I think it should go well. The class is 3 hours each day, split into two halves. The first part of class, we are in a classroom, and our professor gives a lecture, just like any typical class. For the second half, however, we get to walk through the streets of Sevilla and visit various monuments and buildings while my professor lectures on site. It is a completely different experience learning about history when you are right in the middle of where it took place! I thought I would share some of the sights I've seen this week so you can get a feel for the beautiful city that is Sevilla!

El Metropol Parasol (Las Setas)

Right in the center of Sevilla, El Metropol Parasol (commonly referred to as "Las Setas, or "Mushrooms") is a relatively new addition to the city. The view from the top is absolutely amazing. Even cooler, however are the ancient roman ruins that you can tour underneath Las Setas. While it is fairly common in Sevilla to find roman ruins when doing construction, it was a apparently a surprise to find so much intact under this particular strip of land. Our class spent the afternoon looking at the various mosaics, walls, and artifacts that are on display, which was definitely a cool way to learn about Ancient Rome. 

El Alcázar

El Alcázar de Sevilla is a royal palace that was used by the christian monarchy in Spain. While it was built by Christians, the architecture is very Moorish in design, reflecting the large influence of the Muslim Empire that reigned over southern spain before the Reconquista. This type of architecture which combines christian and moorish elements is known in Spain as mudéjar, and can be seen all over Seville. It could be quite easy to spend half a day in El Alcázar; the place is massive and ridiculously ornate. The extensive amount of gardens that surround the palace are equally beautiful. The best part of El Alcázar, however are the peacocks that wander around the gardens. Recently, a mommy peacock had babies, and I desperately want to find them (I have a slight obsession with cute fluffy things). 

La Giralda

La Giralda is the bell tower of La Catedral de Sevilla. The Cathedral was built on the site of the former mosque of the Moorish Empire, which was mostly destroyed during the Reconquista. The only part of the mosque that remains is La Giralda, which was the minaret that called the people of Seville to prayer. After the Christians conquered Sevilla, they added bells at the very top, but kept the Islamic  architecture intact. The view from the top of La Giralda is equally stunning as the view from Las Setas. The climb, is really steep though. I was definitely out of breath when I reached the top! 

Well, there you have it. Those were probably top 3 sights I have visited this week. I should probably stop blogging and get back to studying for my exam, although I don't know how much good it will do me at this point... Hasta luego