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English6 things to know about Seville
- Guadalquivir: one of the few navigable rivers in Spain. In the 16th and 17th centuries, the port of Seville was one of the most important in the world, with ships arriving from the Americas laden with gold, silver and emeralds.
- Almohad capital: the Almohad empire made Seville its capital in the 12th century, for nearly half a century, over a territory covering large parts of the Iberian Peninsula and North Africa.
- Cathedral: the largest Gothic Christian cathedral in the world, made possible by the wealth from trade with the Americas and built on the site of a mosque commissioned by the Almohads in the 12th century.
- Filming: the gardens of Dorne in Game of Thrones were filmed at the Alcázar; Alatriste, Lawrence of Arabia and Star Wars: Episode I also have scenes shot in the city.
- Key point: the statue of Aníbal González in Plaza de España, unveiled in 2010, hides three small handprints, and the city has more than 25,000 orange trees, a world record.
In this article, we present 6 things to know about the city of Seville. If you would like to settle in the area, we can support you throughout the process of buying an apartment or a house!
The Guadalquivir: a navigable river
It is one of the few navigable rivers in Spain, and it played a major role in history. In the 16th and 17th centuries, the port of Seville was one of the most important in the world. Large ships laden with gold, silver and emeralds arrived on the Guadalquivir from the Americas.
Seville: capital of the Almohad empire in the 12th century
The great Almohad empire, which covered large parts of the Iberian Peninsula and North Africa, made Seville its capital in the 12th century, a title it held for nearly half a century. Its strategic position made it easy to control the territory.
Seville Cathedral: the largest Gothic Christian cathedral in the world
To this day, it is the largest Gothic Christian cathedral in the world. This ambitious project was made possible by the wealth the city gained from trade with the Americas. It was built on the site of a large mosque commissioned by the Almohads in the 12th century, which was demolished.
Part of Game of Thrones was filmed in Seville
Part of the story of the legendary American series Game of Thrones was filmed at the Alcázar of Seville. The palace gardens of the beautiful kingdom of Dorne were filmed there. Few other places could have suited this shoot. And Game of Thrones is not the only production filmed in Seville: Alatriste, Lawrence of Arabia and Star Wars: Episode I, The Phantom Menace are just some of the films with scenes shot around the city.
The hidden handprints on the Aníbal González statue
In Plaza de España in Seville, one of the most charming spots in the city, stands a statue honouring its creator, Don Aníbal González. The large bronze figure gazes admiringly at the square. Hidden inside the statue, you can see the marks of three small hands. The statue, by Manuel Nieto, Guillermo Plaza and Manuel Osuna, was unveiled in 2010 in memory of their children.
Seville has more orange trees than any other city in the world
Seville has more than 25,000 orange trees, making it the city with the most in the world. Orange trees came from China, and tradition says they bring happiness to their owner.
Would you like to invest in an apartment or a house in Seville? Contact us! We will look at your property project in Andalusia together.
Thomas Rouer is the founder of Alveo Search and the CEO of the Alveo group. Based in Spain for almost ten years, he develops property services designed for the specific needs of foreign buyers.
His expertise covers every aspect of buying property in Spain: understanding the market, searching for and selecting properties, negotiation, financing, paperwork, tax and securing the purchase process.
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