The bad news: you’ve used up all your holiday allowance for the year. Boo! The good news: You can still spend a weekend in Spain’s sunny Seville and still be home in time to catch your favourite Sunday night drama. Hooray!
- Weekend in Spain Seville . SantiMB . / Foter.com / CC BY-NC-ND
Seville is located in southwestern Spain, not too far from Portugal. It enjoys scorching summers and relatively mild winters, so whether you want to escape the British winter chill or make the most of a free weekend in July, you’ll be able to relax safe in the knowledge that you’ll be basking in temperatures significantly higher than you’d be getting in the UK.
Day 1: Morning
You need to choose your activities wisely if you’re visiting Seville for a weekend, as there’s a lot to see and do. The first day tends to be all about getting your bearings, but you’ll want to make the most of your time in one of Europe’s best citybreak destinations, so get straight out into the action and go exploring in Seville’s medieval streets. This allows you to stumble upon the hidden gems of Seville for yourself. Head towards Casa Pilatos, a merchant’s palace fusing Gothic, Moorish and Renaissance styles and topped off by a grand marble courtyard.
Day 1: Lunchtime
For lunch, pick up some tapas for an authentically Spanish lunch, washed down with a glass of wine. Alternatively, if you fancy a lazy lunch, head to one of the cafes on the riverbank for a refreshing drink and a snack and watch the Spaniards going about their business.
Day 1: Afternoon
Spend your afternoon out of the sun in Seville’s 15th century cathedral, which incorporates the minaret of the site’s former mosque as its bell tower. It’s best to stay protected when temperatures are at their highest, so venturing towards the museums is your best bet to stay cool. In particular, the Flamenco Museum, dedicated to the flamboyant music style, is a great idea for dance fans, who can participate in demonstrations and classes. There is also a bullfighting museum dedicated to one of the most famous Spanish sports. As the sun starts to lose its heat later in the afternoon, check out one of Seville’s many beautiful gardens, such as the Alcazar buildings with its eclectic mixture of Renaissance, English and Moorish styles.
Day 1: Evening
Spend your evening enjoying some traditional Spanish suckling pig, or a giant plate of hot paella, accompanied with a glass of Jerez sherry. If you really want to spoil yourself, try some torrijas, or fried bread with honey, or tortas de aceite, a cake made with olive oil and coated in sugar. You could then go on to enjoy Seville’s diverse club scene, or wind down in a bar.
Day 2: Morning
The next day, you might want to drive to the beaches nearby for a morning of glorious sunshine before it gets too hot to handle. You could take it easy and sunbathe or try something a little more active with waterskiing, jetskiing or snorkelling. Then head back to dry land for a leisurely lunch, perhaps sampling some of the tapas you just couldn’t manage the day before.
Day 2: Lunchtime
Before you head off to the airport, squeeze in a trip to the Museo de Bellas Artes, a convent-turned-art museum, featuring some beautiful Spanish baroque paintings and a delightful cloister garden containing some of Seville’s famous orange trees.
Somehow a weekend traipsing round the supermarket and watching Saturday night gameshows back at home doesn’t seem so appealing, does it…
Emma Lawson is a keen traveller and loves exploring new destinations in Europe and writing about her adventures.
