Holiday rentals in Seville

Seville knows how to enjoy itself with style and flair — but then again, you’d expect no less from the home of flamenco. At the city’s heart sits the historic Barrio de Santa Cruz, whose medieval lanes and cobbled alleys are overlooked by the largest Gothic cathedral in the world. Its 97.5-metre-tall belltower, La Giralda, began as a minaret, and Andalusia’s rich, complex past is written all over the city’s architecture, from the breathtaking Mudejar Palace and gardens of the Royal Alcazar to the stately elegance of the Plaza de España. Endowed by its prosperous merchant past, Seville’s taste for the good life spills out in its tapas bars, trendy restaurants, and joyful embrace of outdoor activities on the Guadalquivir, Spain’s only navigable river. There’s plenty of late-night life, too, from the thrill of Triana to the LGTBQ hangouts of Alameda de Hércules, both neighbourhoods where the flamenco culture still thrives.

Spring in Seville is special. The weather is at its mildest, and the city’s splendid gardens burst into bloom. It also coincides with fiesta time, too. Semana Santa is the world’s most famous Holy Week celebration, while the April Fair that follows fills the streets with noise and merriment. At the height of summer, it’s often too hot to do much in the afternoon, so it’s best to follow the example of the locals by staying indoors in your apartment until evening, and staying up all night (the outdoor concerts at the Jardines del Alcázar start at 10 p.m.), or heading for the coast. The weather in autumn is pleasant, and winter can be rainy, but Christmas has a charm of its own, as does February, when the Carnival of Seville takes place, as well as Andalucia Day.

Parque de María Luisa

Surrounded by a series of gorgeous pavilions housing splendid museums — with the magnificent Plaza de España at its centre — Seville’s chief public park was once a royal estate. Its 100-acre expanse, including a 500-metre canal on which you can go boating, is a glorious infusion of the city’s Renaissance and Moorish heritage with Art Deco styling, created in the 1920s.

Hospital de los Venerables Sacerdotes

Seville was the 17th-century home of one of Spain’s most famous painters, and this former hospice for priests is now an art centre dedicated to him. A beautiful building in its own right, its baroque surroundings are the perfect place to see the artist’s masterpieces in their historic context.

Metropol Parasol

Also known as “The Mushrooms” (Las Setas) for its frankly fungal look, this contemporary plaza, built in 2011, sprouts up near La Encarnación square. Sheltering bars, restaurants, an archaeological museum, and even a farmers’ market within its extraordinary timber canopy, it’s also a great place to catch views out over the city.