Expo'92 placed the city of Sevilla front and centre on the
world stage, but visitors soon find that its surrounding
province is also fascinating. The people of Sevilla have
a longstanding passion for horses and nowhere is this more
evident than at the April Fair in the provincial capital.
Don't forget your camera!
Golf is a relative newcomer to the list of Sevilla's attractions,
for although the private Pineda Club dates back to 1939
it was the province's only course until the '90s. Nonetheless,
the popularity of the game is growing rapidly and the current
decade has seen the construction of several additional courses:
the Real Club de Golf de Sevilla opened in 1991, Zaudín
Golf in '93 and the nine-hole Las Minas course in 1994.
But the focal point of the province is the city of Sevilla
itself. Legend has it that Sevilla was founded by Hercules,
though archeological evidence would point to the Tartessians.
Many centuries later, following the expulsion of the Moors,
Sevilla became the nerve centre of the Spanish empire. It
reached the height of its prosperity when the Americas were
discovered and its harbour was full of ships laden with
gold and silver from the New World. So in 1992, the 500th
anniversary of Columbus famous Voyage of discovery, it was
only fitting that the host city for the World's Fair should
be Sevilla.
A stroll through the streets of Andalucia`s capital city
is like turning the pages of a history book. From wherever
in the city you look can`t miss La Giralda, the graceful
bell-tower located on the side of a mosque built in 1172.
Go and see the Barrio de Santa Cruz, the old Jewish quarter
with its maze of narrow streets next to the second-largest
in Europe. Then there's the 13th century Torre del Oro which
served as a repository for the New World's treasures.
Sevilla is famous for its fiestas and ferias, especially
the April Fair when the whole city arupts in a riot colourful
celebrations complete with "sevillanas" flamenco,
riders on horseback, a terrific feeling of gaiety and plenty
of vino (fino). The Easter Week processions, though far
different in character, much more sombre, are also famous.
