Car: don't even try to park near the Feria, unless you have a micro-car like a Smart which will fit into the smallest spaces. Instead, leave it at the Charco de la Pava car park, and catch the shuttle bus to the main recinto. Bear in mind that the police will be out in force with breathalyser checkpoints, so don't drink and drive.
As tourists approach the Seville Fair in simple shirts and trousers, cameras in hand and sunglasses ready for action, it might appear that all the natives are simply dressed in some traditional folkloric costume that only varies slightly in colour and cut from one person to another.
The Seville April Fair takes place in the Los Remedios neighbourhood in Seville on grounds covering 1.2 million square metres. Part of this area is set aside every year for the amusement park known as “Calle del Infierno” (Hell’s Street).
If you're a guest who has been formally invited to a caseta, once in your host will buy the first round of drinks and raciones - cheese, prawns, ham, 'pescao frito' (fried fish). Let him - it's tradition, and offering to pay will be considered bad form. Then you can order what you want, to share with your host if appropriate.
As the capital of Andalucia, Seville has a wealth of history, culture and gastronomy to offer. From Roman and Moorish delights to contemporary architecture and interactive museums, you'll have plenty to keep you busy on your visit to La Hispalense.
Whether you're visiting for Semana Santa - in which case beware, as many of these places are closed that week - or Feria, or another time, here is our list of top 10 of things to see and do in Sevilla.
A private golf club, where visitors can play if accompanied by a member. The original 9-hole course, dating back to 1939, was extended to 18 holes and opened in 1992. Sloping gradually towards the Guadiara River, it is reasonably flat and has three lakes and numerous bunkers.
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For many visitors to Seville, flamenco is one of its greatest treasures. People flock to the many tablaos (flamenco bars) and flamenco shows to see a little of this Andalucían culture while visiting the city. Without a doubt, flamenco is one of the wonders of Southern Spain and after you have been to one of the many flamenco shows that are on offer in the city, you may just want to further your education on the subject.
The sevillana is a colourful and exciting style of song and dance that originated in Castile and not in Seville, a variation from a style of dance known as the seguidilla. The sevillana is not flamenco, although today it is performed by flamenco artists who give it that special flamenco touch.
The Santa Justa train station is located to the north-east of the city centre, on Avenida Kansas City. Santa Justa train station opened in 1991, as part of the city’s modernization plans for the Expo 1992 when Spain’s first high-speed AVE train service was launched (Plaza de Armas, the beautiful old station, is now a shopping centre with cinema).
Like most new mothers, I am writing this in a few precious snatched moments of liberty. In my case, they are afforded by Baby Einstein DVDs, themed confections of classical music, glove puppets and plastic toys. My baby is entranced by them, gurgling and chuckling with delight at the little red cars and yellow birds.
Sevilla Fútbol Club was started first out of the city's two football clubs - officially in 1905, but the earliest football match took place in the city earlier, in 1890, against the newly-founded Huelva Club Deportivo. This club was started by British Rio Tinto mineworkers who brought the game to Spain, along with British sailorsn and Spanish students returning from Britain, where the first clubs had been established in the 1850s. Its name, Sevilla FC (Fútbol Club, rather than CF - Club de Futbol) reflects its British origins.
Francisco de Zurbarán was born in Extremadura but settled in Seville in 1629 where he had a very successful career accepting large commissions for the wealthy religious order. He was in Madrid from 1634 - 6 in the service of King Philip IV and on his return to Seville he began painting commissions for Spanish American clients.
Spring in Seville has a special atmosphere, garlanded with the sweet scent of orange blossom and jasmine, and a frisson of excited anticipation, as the city's two most important events take place - first Semana Santa and then the Spring Fair, the Feria de Abril.
Ten rides, including Fast River, black hole and foam slides; little kids’ pool. Jacuzzi and lake with waterfall will appeal to parents, as will VIP area: shady pergola on lawn with table, chairs, sunloungers, and some drinks, for a steep 35 euros. Three restaurants offering standard fare - pizza, burger and ice-cream – plus barbeque.
As experienced by Tom Cruise´s daughter Suri, when he hired it exclusively for the day for her, while filming Knight and Day in Seville in 2009. Isla Mágica amusement park is located in the original '92 Expo site, on the Isla Cartuja – north-west of the city centre, across the Puente Barqueta.
Together these three buildings form a remarkable monumental complex in the heart of Seville. The cathedral and the Alcázar - dating from the Reconquest of 1248 to the 16th century and imbued with Moorish influences - are an exceptional testimony to the civilization of the Almohads as well as that of Christian Andalusia.
Fifteen years ago, Seville's more louche inhabitants (think ladies of the night, men in frocks, and controlled substances) inhabited the Alameda, which lies to the north of the centre. Now it's home to trendy bars, vegetarian restaurants, and those all-in-one bar-gallery-stores that were first hip in Soho, New York, about 25 years ago. You'll even find sushi and Asian-fusion restaurants here, while yoga studios abound. It's also hugely popular with families, and the playgrounds are heaving in the afternoons and evenings, late into the night in the hot summer.
This impressive riverside building was originally designed for Expo 92, when it had replicas of Columbus' three ships moored outside (now at the Muelle de las Carabelas in La Rabida). Today the Pabellon houses an excellent interactive museum about maritime navigation.
One of Seville’s most amazing attractions can be enjoyed free of charge as you walk the streets: more than 14,000 bitter orange trees that decorate the “calles” and infuse this charming city with the heavenly scent of their blossoms every spring. In fact, these ornamental, bitter orange trees outnumber every other species of tree in the city of Seville.
