Jardines de Murillo

Today felt like a day off. We were to stay in Seville and didn’t have to catch a bus, train, or plane. It was also a day off for the Spanish––October 12 is their National Day, but in Spain, it is not Columbus Day. We walked from our hotel through the Jardines de Murillo on our way to the Plaza de Espana.

Jardines de Murillo

Jardines de Murillo

Like many places in Seville, this park is rich in tile work, Spanish structures, and statues, making it quite a nice walk through it.

Jardines de Murillo

Jardines de Murillo

Tile work in the garden.

Jardines de Murillo

Jardines de Murillo

Fountain and tiles.

Jardines de Murillo

Jardines de Murillo

Beautiful tiled bench.

Jardines de Murillo

Jardines de Murillo

Interesting structure.

Jardines de Murillo

Jardines de Murillo

Close–up of the tiled mural.

Jardines de Murillo

Jardines de Murillo

Close–up of the monument.

Jardines de Murillo

Jardines de Murillo

Close–up of the lion.

Jardines de Murillo

Jardines de Murillo

Another tiled bench.

Jardines de Murillo

On the Way to the Plaza de Espana

A statue in the middle of a busy street.

On the Way to the Plaza de Espana

On the Way to the Plaza de Espana

Horses and buggies lined up.

On the Way to the Plaza de Espana

On the Way to the Plaza de Espana

Souvenir stand right outside the Plaza de Espana.

On the Way to the Plaza de Espana

Plaza de Espana

The Spanish Pavilion in the Plaza de Espana was part of the 1929 International Fair held in Seville. I thought it was absolutely beautiful––the buildings, the tiles, the views, etc. I have put my photos of the Plaza de Espana on a slide show on this website: Go to Slide Shows, Western Europe, Spain–2, “Seville: Plaza de Espana.”

Plaza de Espana

Plaza de Espana

We were quite surprised when we saw these Indians in the Plaza de Espana. I thought they were American Indians, but Merrie asked and found out that they were from Peru. Anyway, they were an unexpected sight here in Seville. I have put a movie clip of their music on this website:  Go to Movies, Western Europe, Spain,  “Indian Music at Plaza de Espana, Seville.” You will also get a panoramic view of the Plaza de Espana when you view the movie clip.

Plaza de Espana

Seville Walk

After walking around the Plaza de Espana, Merrie and I split up as she wanted to go right to the Cathedral and I wanted to go in search of some of the beautiful buildings that we saw on the Hop–on Hop–off bus we took on Monday. However, I walked in the wrong direction and found myself back in the Barrio Santa Cruz. Photo: Statues seen on my walk.

Seville Walk

Seville Walk

A flamenco venue.

Seville Walk

Seville Walk

Well, at least I saw one of the interesting buildings that I was looking for.

Seville Walk

Seville Walk

Back in the Barrio Santa Cruz. I had not been in this section before so it was interesting.

Seville Walk

Seville Walk

This ceramic store looked inviting.

Seville Walk

Seville Walk

The ceramics in this store were much different from the ones we had seen in the more traditional stores.

Seville Walk

Seville Walk

I had been looking for a Spanish–style clock to put into my new basement gym and the one in this photo, though looking more Mexican–style, was absolutely perfect. I also bought the lizard. Now all I would have to figure out is how to carry them home. The first step was to take them back to my hotel, which I did next.

Seville Walk

Seville Walk

After depositing my new treasures in my hotel room, I started out again––this time to visit the Cathedral. Photo: Tiled mural on a wall seen on my walk.

Seville Walk

Seville Walk

An interesting top of a building.

Seville Walk

Seville Walk

When we were in this area on Monday, Merrie and I discovered a great Spanish pottery store. We both wanted to return to it, but the two times that we did go back to it, it was closed. Today it was open. By now, I had learned that if you see something in a store in Spain that you want to buy, buy it then as you never know when that store will be open again. There doesn’t appear to be set opening and closing times for stores in Spain––they are open only when the store owners or help feel like opening the store. I picked out several plates to bring back as gifts and, of course, now I would either have to go back again to my hotel or carry them along with me to the Cathedral. I chose to carry them. I had expected to see more Mexican–style Talavera pottery in Spain, but the Spanish pottery is quite different. Photo: One of the plates that I bought.

Seville Walk

Seville Walk

And I found another store open that I had been in previously and likewise had also found closed the next two times I passed it. So I bought fans as gifts here and also some posters. I framed the posters when I got home, but the fans and the posters and the ceramics did load me down. Photo: One of the posters that I bought.

Seville Walk

Seville Walk

Another of the posters.

Seville Walk

Seville Walk

And another.

Seville Walk

Seville Cathedral and Giralda Tower

The Seville Cathedral and Giralda Tower at the end of my walk.

Seville Cathedral and Giralda Tower

Giralda Tower

The Giralda Tower was originally a Moorish minaret, but was converted into a bell tower for the Cathedral after the Moors were defeated.

Giralda Tower

Giralda Tower

Close–up of the top of the tower.

Giralda Tower

Giralda Tower

The statue on top of the tower represents a “Triumph of Faith.”

Giralda Tower

Seville Cathedral

Entrance to the Cathedral. The Seville Cathedral is the third largest church in Europe and the world’s largest Gothic church. It started being built in 1401 and the building of it continued for another 120 years.

Seville Cathedral

Seville Cathedral

Another view of the entrance.

Seville Cathedral

Seville Cathedral

Inside the Cathedral.

Seville Cathedral

Seville Cathedral

The Cathedral’s main attraction: the tomb of Christopher Columbus. His casket is carried by four kings––of Castile, Aragon, Leon, and Navarre. I can’t think of a more thrilling thing to have seen on this day––our Columbus Day, October 12.

Seville Cathedral

Seville Cathedral

You go up a ramp to view the casket up closer. View from the back.

Seville Cathedral

Seville Cathedral

View from the side.

Seville Cathedral

Seville Cathedral

View from the front. DNA testing has proved that this is the tomb of Christopher Columbus. He was first buried in Spain, then in the Dominican Republic, next in Cuba, and then finally back again in Seville. However, the Dominican Republic still claims that Christopher Columbus’ bones are buried in Santa Domingo, Dominican Republic.

Seville Cathedral

Seville Cathedral

1788 clock above the tomb of Christopher Columbus.

Seville Cathedral

Seville Cathedral

Seville Cathedral seen from the top of the Columbus ramp.

Seville Cathedral

Seville Cathedral

Inside the Cathedral.

Seville Cathedral

Seville Cathedral

Inside the Cathedral.

Seville Cathedral

Seville Cathedral

Inside the Cathedral.

Seville Cathedral

Seville Cathedral

Inside the Cathedral.

Seville Cathedral

Seville Cathedral

Inside the Cathedral.

Seville Cathedral

Seville Cathedral

Inside the Cathedral.

Seville Cathedral

Seville Cathedral

Inside the Cathedral.

Seville Cathedral

Seville Cathedral

Inside the Cathedral.

Seville Cathedral

Seville Cathedral

Inside the Cathedral.

Seville Cathedral

Seville Cathedral

Inside the Cathedral.

Seville Cathedral

Seville Cathedral

The High Altar. This is the largest altarpiece ever made––65 feet tall. It depicts 44 scenes from the life of Jesus.

Seville Cathedral

Seville Cathedral

Another view of the High Altar.

Seville Cathedral

Seville Cathedral

One of the panels of the High Altar.

Seville Cathedral

Seville Cathedral

Another panel of the High Altar.

Seville Cathedral

Outside the Seville Cathedral

A view of the Plaza Virgin de los Reyes from the exit from the Cathedral.

Outside the Seville Cathedral

Outside the Seville Cathedral

Horses lined up outside the Cathedral.

Outside the Seville Cathedral

Giralda Tower

A view of Giralda Tower from an arch in the Alcazar.

Giralda Tower

Outside the Seville Cathedral

Tired tourists in the Plaza Virgen de los Reyes.

Outside the Seville Cathedral

Outside the Seville Cathedral

I needed to go back to my hotel to drop all my purchases off and also needed some lunch, which I ate at the cafe near our hotel. This was National Day, which looked more like Spanish party day. The streets were very crowded––I don’t know if this poor woman driver ever was able to move her car through the crowd. The rest of my photos from this day are on Day 10(B), Seville.

Outside the Seville Cathedral