1
The Torre del Oro, or “Tower of Gold”, stands by the Guadalquivir River. Its first section was built around 1220–1221, when Seville was ruled by the Almohads, a Muslim dynasty that controlled large parts of North Africa and the Iberian Peninsula. The tower formed part of the city’s river defences and helped protect access to the area beside the water.
Look closely and you can distinguish different stages of construction. A second section was added in the fourteenth century, and the uppermost section dates from the eighteenth century. The building therefore reflects several different periods of Seville’s history.
Why the name “Tower of Gold”? One traditional explanation connects it with the golden reflections of its former exterior decoration. The exact origin of the name is not completely certain, so it is best treated as a popular explanation rather than a proven fact.
Imagine seeing this tower centuries ago, when ships approaching Seville carried goods, news and travellers from distant places.
2
The Guadalquivir has played a major
role in Seville’s history. Its name comes from Arabic words meaning “the great
river”.
For centuries, the river helped connect the city
with the Atlantic Ocean. During the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries,
Seville became a major centre of Spanish trade with the Americas. Goods,
people, wealth and information moved through the city, helping transform its
economy and international importance.
The river was not simply a route for ships. It was
also part of everyday urban life, linking neighbourhoods and supporting work
along its banks. Today, the waterfront is used for walking, recreation and
tourism, while bridges connect different parts of the city.
3
In the sixteenth century, Seville became one of
Spain’s most important gateways to the Americas. Ships carried people and goods
across the Atlantic, while silver, trade products and information travelled
back to Europe.
The Archivo General de Indias was
established in 1785 to gather important documents about Spain’s overseas
territories. It preserves records that help historians understand exploration,
trade, government and colonial rule.
These places also tell a more complicated story. Atlantic trade created wealth and new connections, but Spanish colonisation involved conquest and profound consequences for Indigenous American societies.
4
Next to it stands the Royal
Alcázar, a palace complex with a much longer history. Its
origins include an Islamic-period palace, while later rulers added buildings in
different styles. One particularly striking tradition is Mudéjar
art, which combines Christian patronage with artistic
techniques and decorative influences associated with Islamic Iberia.
5
Look up at the Giralda,
one of Seville’s most recognisable landmarks. Its story begins when Seville was
an important city under Muslim rule. The tower was built as the minaret of the
city’s great mosque in the twelfth century. A minaret is a tower associated
with a mosque, traditionally used to call Muslims to prayer.
After Christian forces conquered Seville in 1248,
the city’s religious and political landscape changed. The mosque was eventually
replaced by a great Christian cathedral, whose construction began in the early
fifteenth century. The Giralda survived and was adapted into a bell tower.
Look carefully and you can see that the tower and cathedral do not belong to exactly the same architectural moment. Together, they tell a story of change, reuse and cultural influence.This is not simply a story of one style replacing another. Elements of Islamic art and design continued to influence architecture created under Christian rulers, producing some of Andalusia’s most distinctive buildings.
6
This impressive building was once the Royal
Tobacco Factory of Seville, one of the largest industrial
buildings in eighteenth-century Europe.
Tobacco arrived in Europe from the Americas after
the voyages of the late fifteenth century. Over time, tobacco became an
important commercial product, and Seville developed a major industry around
processing it.
Imagine hundreds of workers inside a vast factory,
surrounded by the sounds, smells and routines of industrial production. The
building later became part of the University of Seville, so a place
once associated with manufacturing is now connected with education.
The factory is also linked to Carmen,
the fictional cigar-maker made famous by Georges Bizet’s opera. Carmen is not a
documented historical person; she is a character whose story helped spread an
image of Seville around the world.
This building reminds us that cities change:
workplaces can become universities, and real streets can inspire fictional
stories.
7
Welcome to Plaza de España, one of Seville’s
most spectacular landmarks!
This enormous square was designed by architect Aníbal
González for the Ibero-American Exhibition of 1929. The
exhibition aimed to strengthen cultural and economic links between Spain and
countries in the Americas.
Look at the shape of the square. Its great curve is
often interpreted as an embrace, welcoming visitors from across the world. The
colourful ceramic decorations are called azulejos, and they are an important
feature of Andalusian architecture.
Along the building, you can find benches
representing Spain’s provinces, decorated with historical scenes and maps. The
square has also appeared in famous films, including Star Wars: Episode II –
Attack of the Clones.
