You have chosen to practice the language of Cervantes during a language study trip to Spain with LEC? If so, you might just have the chance to discover wonderful Granada. But today, our organization has chosen to tell you about its “best enemy”: let’s head to Seville, about 200 kilometers from Granada!
Seville, the capital of Andalusia
Along with Granada, as well as Málaga and Cádiz, Seville is one of the most populous cities in Andalusia, a region you may have the privilege of exploring during your next language study trip to Spain. Seville even edges out its rivals, as it is the most populous of the four cities mentioned above. In 2012, it had a population of 702,355, which is almost as many asa department like the Gard, on this side of the Pyrenees.
The rich history of Seville
Seville is, above all, a city steeped in history, a history of breathtaking richness. After falling into the hands of the Phoenicians, it passed successively to the Greeks, then the Carthaginians, and finally the Romans. Having become a stronghold of the Vandals, it came under Moorish rule, and later fell to the Catholics. Weakened by an economic decline that began in the mid-17th century, Seville was captured by Marshal Soult’s troops during the War of Independence against Napoleon I. In 1992, the city received further recognition when it hosted the World’s Fair.
What to see in Seville during a language study trip to Spain?
Deciding what to see in Seville and what to skip during your language study trip to Spain is a real dilemma, given how much the city has to offer. LEC lists below the most famous sites in the Andalusian capital, namely:
- the Alcázar, a magnificent palace built under the direction of Peter I the Cruel
- the cathedral, which has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987
- the Giralda, or the former minaret of the city’s Almohad Great Mosque
- the Real Maestranza de Caballería bullring in Seville, which hosts the famous Feria de Abril