Where to Start in Seville - Seville, Andalusia, Spain
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Stumble It!Seville, Andalusia, Spain
Seville is a Spanish city well known for its beauty and charm. Its cathedral is enormous, stunning, and (supposedly) holds the remains of one Christopher Columbus. However, for those looking for something a little bit different in Seville, I've got a suggestion for a great place to start your adventure: The University of Seville. That's right, go on vacation and go right back to school. But seriously, this is a great place to start. First off, all around the perimeter of the main building (which is called 'el rectorado' in Spanish) are ruins that date back to the Roman Empire. A metro system is in the process of being built in Seville, but every time the workers start digging, they have to stop, because some sort of new historical site is found. So, the ruins are left as they are, and a new municipal headache of trying to figure out how to build the metro without destroying the ruins has begun.
Once you pass by the ruins, you get to the building itself, the star of the show. I say this because this is no ordinary university building. This is what used to be the old tobacco factory in Seville, the inspiration for Bizet's opera 'Carmen.' It's a huge space, made of smooth, cool marble. There are small patios and courtyards, with fountains to cool yourself off in the Andalusian heat. You can explore all over the building, getting lost in its immensity.
If you get lost, remember, you're in a university. I say this because there are a lot of English-speaking students at the University of Seville, and also a lot of Americans, Irish, British, etc. students who can help you find your way, if the need presents itself.
After walking around in the building, you'll most likely be hungry. My advice would be to make your way to the Law Faculty Cafeteria ('la cafeteria de la facultad de derecho' in Spanish.) This might be the best part of the university. They have a selection of tapas starting at 1 euro a piece(!) and cold glasses of beer for only 0.85. I would recommend ordering a bocadillo de pollo empanado (breaded chicken sandwich on crusty, delicious Spanish bread) which comes with french fries placed right on the sandwich. And with it, maybe a tapa de ensaladilla (a Spanish potato salad, with peas and carrots) And to wash it all down, a cold glass of Cruzcampo beer. There's really nothing better on a hot day in Seville than a cold Cruzcampo; and I don't even work for them.
After lunch, you can stroll around the outside of the university, and maybe lie down and take a siesta in the grass, underneath a palm tree, while students play guitar, sing, and relax all around you. While this may be a university, you'll come to find that it's a great place to begin to get to know Seville, one of the most beautiful cities in Spain.
I studied at the University of Seville in 2004-2005. If anyone wants more info about the Uni, Seville, Spain, or anything regarding anything, just drop me a line here: kpn at uchicago dot edu.
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