t Calle Sierpes, popular for shopping and for the paseo – a leisurely evening stroll
t Calle Sierpes, popular for shopping and for the paseo – a leisurely evening stroll
Experience Santa Cruz
The Barrio de Santa Cruz, Seville’s old Jewish quarter, is a warren of white alleys and patios that has long been the most picturesque corner of the city. When Fernando III of Castile took the city from the Moors in 1248, he consigned Seville’s Jewish population to this corner of the city until they were expelled from Spain in 1492. The neighbourhood saw a period of decline after this until the 16th century when, like the rest of the city, wealth flooded into the area from the New World. The Archivo de Indias testifies to this time of exploration and conquest.
To the north, the charming Plaza del Salvador acted as a backdrop for some of Cervantes’ stories, including Rinconete y Cortadillo. Here, the Spanish writer exposes the criminal underworld that operated during this 16th-century “Golden Age”. Other famous Spaniards have also been inspired by the barrio’s enchanting maze of whitewashed streets. The artist Bartolomé Esteban Murillo lived here in the 17th century while his contemporary Juan de Valdés Leal decorated the Hospital de los Venerables with fine Baroque frescoes.
In the 18th century, Santa Cruz underwent a process of urban renewal and since then it has been at the top of visitors’ lists due to it being home to some of the city’s best-known sights: the cavernous Gothic cathedral with its landmark Giralda, and the splendid Alcázar with its royal palaces and lush Jardines del Alcázar.