On Sunday we took the cars and headed to Seville. It is about a 2 1/2 hour drive, but it was a beautiful drive there. Seville is the fourth largest city in Spain. It was over 1.5 million people living there. There is a legend that the history of Sevilla started when the city was founded by the Greek hero, Hercules. The European discovery of the New World in 1492 was of supreme importance for the city which became the European port of departure to the Americas and the commercial capital of the Spanish Empire. In the year 1800, Seville saw an epidemic of yellow fever which spread over the entire city in four months, wiping out a third of the population. It had been introduced into the port of Cadiz with the arrival in July of a corvette coming from Havana.
We went on a Sunday and we saw a lot of people dressed up in 1920s. I am still not sure where they were going but I enjoyed looking at all the outfits.
The group heading into the city center after finding some parking. I thought the streets were narrow in Italy, but these were close.
I really liked this building, it is different from the architect that I have seen around Europe.
This shows the block where the building is on. Very interesting to see the old next to the new.
I love my dad!! He is waiting for us to get our Starbucks's coffee. He had a great time people watching.
This is in front of Sevilla's Cathedral, I am guessing that church was about to start. There were a lot of people waiting outside. I almost wish we would have stayed to listen to the organ play, it looked amazing.
This is some of the architect on the outside of the cathedral. The detail and the size is amazing! Those statues in there are taller than David.
Julie and Al in front of one of the doors. You can see the size of it!
This is a close up view one of the many arches around the cathedral.
As we headed down the street we saw this lady start dancing the Flamenco. Sevilla is known for Flamenco dancing.
One side of the gigantic cathedral!
Michael and David showing us their lion faces!!!
This is the "Fountain of Hispalis." It was the first name given to the city by the Romans.
The cathedral - you can see the Giralda tower on the right side of the photo. This was formerly a Moorish minaret from which Muslims were caller to prayer, it became the cathedral's bell tower after the Reconquista. A 4,500 lb bronze statue symbolizing the Triumph of Faith caps the tower and serves as a weather vane. Now by law, no building in the center may be higher than the statue atop the tower.
There was bit of a line to get into the Alcazar so Julie took the kids over to the statue to have a seat while the rest of us waited in line.
Thankfully it didn't take too long to get into Alcazar and this was too pretty to pass up with the flowers through arch. Alcazar was originally a 10-century palace built for the governors of the local Moorish state, this building still functions as a royal palace- the oldest in Europe that's still in use.
The second archway heading into Alacazar.
We are in the middle of the Courtyard of the Hunt, waiting for some of our group to come back and Julie was being silly!!! The palace complex was built over many centuries, with rooms and decorations from the various rulers who've lived here. Moorish caliphs first built the original 10th century palace and gardens. Then after Sevilla was Christianized in 1248, King Pedro I built the most famous part of the complex. Today's king and queen still use the palace's upper floor as one of their royal residences.
Then she decided to be good so we could get a good photo!!
This is a painting is a key turning point of Sevilla's history: King Ferdinand III kneels before the bishop, giving thanks to God for helping him liberate the city from Muslims (1248).
They had a bunch of really old fans there that were neat. Some were very decorative and other had tons of feathers.
This was a very ornate paint brush holder. Look at the detail in it, and this is not much bigger than two of my fingers.
In this very room, Queen Elizabeth debriefed Columbus after his New World discoveries, she realized what he'd found could be big business. She created this wing in 1503 to administer Spain's New World ventures. In these halls, Columbus recounted his travels. How cool is it that we were standing where Columbus did. This is a model of his Santa Maria.
This is St Mary of the Navigators by Alejo Fernandez in 1530s. The Virgin - patron saint of sailors and a favorite of Columbus - keeps watch over the puny ships beneath her. Her cape seems to protect everyone under it - even the Native Americans in the dark background (the first time "Indians" were painted in Europe).
Standing beside the Virgin (on the right, dressed in gold, joining his hands together in prayer) is none other than Christopher Columbus. He stands on a cloud, because he is now in Heaven. This was painted after his death. Many historians believe this is the earliest known portrait of Columbus, so it is thought to be the mos accurate.
This is the family coat of arms of Columbus' descendants. Using Columbus' Spanish name, it reads "To Castile and to Leon, Colon gave a new world.
This is part of the entrance to King Pedro I's palace, the Alcazar's 14th century nucleus. The facade is a blend of Islamic tracery and Gothic Christian elements. I find it amazing the detail in everything they do.
This is some of the work on the inside of Alcazar. I know I say this a lot, but detail and how beautiful it looks!
This is the Courtyard of the Maidens. This is the center of King Pedro's palace. Like the Moors who preceded him, Pedro built his palace around water. King Pedro abandoned his wife and moved into the Alcazar with his mistress. If you look at the far wall you can see the different architecture. The bottom is Mudejar style with loped arches and elaborate, then the top level is Renaissance with round arches and less decoration. This shows the different styles that were used throughout the centuries Alcazar was built.
The kids in the courtyard - they were all still smiling at this point!
The crew in front of one of the arches.
This is the ceiling of the Hall of Ambassadors. This is were King Pedro received his guests. The room is a cube topped with a half-dome, like many important Islamic buildings. In Islam, the cube represents the earth, and the dome is the starry heavens. In Pedro's world the symbolism proclaimed that he controlled heaven and earth.
Michael looking up at Grandma - look at that smile!!!!
AJ, Michael and Gabby checking out another one of the ponds in the palace. There were fish in this one.
Julie in the Courtyard of the Dolls. This courtyard was reserved for the king's private family life. Originally Julie would be standing in water. The columns are recycled from ancient Roman and Visigothic buildings.
It was named after doll faces that are in this arch way.
Kaitlyn, David and Michael taking a little breather. It was a big palace that is for sure!
This is a chandelier in the Hall of Ambassadors.
This is the Hall of Tapestries. It is amazing the size of these and just thinking about how long it would take to make them.
This map tapestry actually has South pointing up and North pointing down. It was interesting trying to find all the different countries.
Julie and Gabby in the interior of the palace.
This is the Mercury Pool. It is a reservoir fed by a 16th century aqueduct and irrigated the palaces entire garden. As only the elites had running water, this fountain was an extravagant show of power.
As we were heading out of Alcazar, AJ and Gabby are having a great conversation.
We have some really great looking kids!!!
They are also lots of fun and really silly!
There is nothing significant about this, but I just loved how it looked!
After that everybody was hungry so we found a quaint place to eat. It was a wonderful place to eat and everybody enjoyed the atmosphere and the food!
Seville is known for bull fighting and this restaurant was proud of it.
Dad and I enjoying a drink!!
Have to have a selfie with my brother!!!
After lunch we headed over to the cathedral and Michael and Kaitlyn were being monkeys along the way. We found that the line was HUGE for it, but our wonderful Rick Steve's book had a quicker way to get in. So Al and I headed over to the Church of the Savior. We bought tickets for both churches and then Al and I decided to take a quick peek inside this church.
Church of the Savior is Seville's 2nd largest church built on the ninth-century mosque.
This is the Santa Ana Reredos and the Mural of the immaculate conception. The one on the left is the sculpture group of Saint Anne teaching the Virgin Mary to read and was carved by Jose Montes de Oca in 1714. The one on the right was carved by Jose Maestre between 1718 and 1731. The central niche holds a modern replica of the Virgen del Rocio.The figure is the primary component of the Confraternity of Seville that goes on pilgrimage each year to the shrine of the Virgin del Rocio in the Donana wetlands.
I had to get a picture of the organ - one of these days I am going to get to hear one!
This is the Virgin de las aguas ensemble. This figure belongs to a group of the 13th century figures of the Virgin Mary brought by Castilian conquerors. The chamber around it is called the Dressing Chamber of the virgen de las aguas. It was started in 1722 and not finished until 1727.
We were warned in my book about these ladies. They try and hand you a piece of rosemary saying it is free.
Then they grab your hand and read your fortune for a tip. Coins are "bad luck," so the minimum payment they'll accept is 5 euros. They were all over the place, I can't tell you how many times they tried to give us one.
I love how this picture looks!! I can't take credit for it, Al or Julie took it, but just beautiful!
We were able to cut the line and head into the Cathedral. It is the third-largest church in Europe (after St Peter's at the Vatican and St Paul's in London) and the largest Gothic church anywhere. When they ripped down a mosque of brick on this site in 1401, the Reconquista Christians announced their intention to build a cathedral so huge that "anyone who sees it will take us for madmen." They built for about 100 years.
Kaitlyn and AJ being royalty!
Gabby and Mom standing in front of Christopher Columbus's grave.
It is in front of the cathedral's entrance for pilgrims are four kings who carry the tomb of Christopher Columbus. His pallbearers represent the regions of Castile, Aragon, Leon and Navarre.
Columbus didn't just travel a lot while alive - he even kept it up posthumously. He was buried first in northwestern Spain (where he died), then moved to a monastery here in Sevilla, then to what's now the Dominican Republic (as he requested), then to Cuba. Finally - when Cuba gained independence from Spain, around 1900 - his remains sailed home again to Sevilla.
You know I LOVE my organs, but this one is HUGE!!! And there are two of these!!!
This is the high altar - the largest altarpiece ever made. It is 65 feet tall, with 44 scenes from the life of Jesus and Mary carved from walnut and chestnut, blanketed by a staggering amount of gold leaf.
The work took three generations to complete (1481-1564). The story is told left to right, bottom to top.
This is a little closer up view of some of the stories up there. It was almost too much to take in.
This is the choir area. The organ has more than 7,000 pipes!!! What a sound that could make.
Here is a better shot of the choir area.
This is the other side of the organ - with the people by it you can see the enormous size of it and this is one of two.
This is one column on the side of the church.
This is the Main Sacristy which is 16th century. The intricate masonry, called Plateresque resembles lacy silver work. God is way up in the cupola. The three layers of figures below show the heavenly host; relatives in purgatory and the wretched in hell.
Michael checking out part of the treasury there.
This jeweled crown (the Corona de la Virgen de los Reyes, by Manuel de la Torres) sparkles with thousands of tiny buy precious stones, and the world's largest pearl - used as the torso of an angel. This treasure was paid for by locals who donated their wealth to royally crown their Madonna.
They had a mirror where you could look at the ceiling with out craning your neck. Many people were taking selfies in it.
This is the backside of the church in the court of the orange trees.
When we exited the church, after avoiding the ladies with rosemary, the boys saw this character and wanted a picture with him. He is pretty cool looking.
Sitting next to him were the headless crew.
Aren't my parents so cute?!? Waiting while we did a little last minute shopping and bathroom break.
Then we headed back to our house and what did the kids do when we got there?!? That is right, jump into the pool!!! I was so glad we had it for them to enjoy while we were on vacation!
And the parents were enjoying some time just relaxing out on the patio watching the kids! It was a great day and I really enjoyed all the history and flair of Sevilla!
