A walk through the impressive monument built for the Ibero-american exhibition in 1929.
Perhaps you remember it from Star Wars: it was used for some of the scenes of a couple of episodes of the saga. Also on Sacha Baron Cohen's The Dictator.
It is an excellent example of revivalism in architecture and stands out because of the skilful combination of a brick structure, tiles and many different polychrome ceramic decorations.
Its shape is a semi-circular brick building, with a Renaissance/neo-Moorish style, a tower at each end. In front of it, there is a 500-meters canal crossed by four bridges and a huge fountain in the center of the square. You can rent small boats to row in the canal, or take a horse-and-carriage ride.
Beside the semicircular canal, another one of the square's main attractions are the benches that depict
historic episodes for 48 provinces of Spain in ceramic tiles, and the beautiful coffered ceiling in the building.
These beautiful coloured ceramics (
azulejos) feature heavily all over the Plaza de España: the walls, bridges and balustrades are also covered in azulejos.
It was built as the Pabellon de Andalucia for the Expo 1929, which took place in Maria Luisa park - where it is located. The architect Anibal Gonzalez designed it to show Seville's talents in industry and crafts... I'm pretty sure it was an accomplished mission.
Plaza de España
Av de Isabel la Católica, 41004 Seville
Open everyday from 8.00 to 22.00
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