The most southerly of Spain’s regional capitals, Seville enjoys a mild winter climate and hot dry summers cooled by Atlantic breezes. Regenerated for the 1992 Expo in the Isla Cartuja across the river, its ideal for a city break at any time of year or combined with Madrid or the nearby Costa del Sol for a two centre holiday.
It’s a compact city which is easy to walk around thanks to the absence of cars in many of the narrow alley ways of the old town. And thereby lies its charm, follow any of these and you’ll find an architectural gem – be it a shaded patio with orange trees or a magnificently restored church or public building. Every corner seems to have a bar with outside tables so you can savour the atmosphere all year round. If you tire of the city streets, head down to the river and stroll along the paseo or through the parks admiring the various bridges, the rowers on the river or explore the former site of the Expo, now a theme park.
Being Andalucia’s principal city, it’s great for shopping with branches of all the main department stores and fashion shops as well as many boutiques specialising in local fashions for both boyz and girlz. It’s a relaxed gay scene too with a concentration of bars around Reyes Catolicos and the Paseo Colon or on the Alameda. It’s a well integrated scene so don’t expect to see too many rainbow flags unless you head for one of the two saunas or the Men and Bears club.