Seville: Enchanting Beauty Amidst A Colorful History
Seville's has a rich history dating back more than 2000 years
. From circa 200 BC and for the next 700 years or so, the Romans ruled the area that we today know as the country of Spain. They were the dominant military force in Europe and the known world at the time. It was during this time that the city of Seville grew in prominence with the Romans christening it as Hispalis. In fact, the one of the first structures to be build by the Romans in Spain was just 9 kilometers outside today's Seville city in an area aptly named Italica.
Italica would rise to become one of Rome's main military posts in Spain throughout the first three centuries of the first AD millennium. The buildings in Italica included an amphitheatre that has amazingly managed to survive to this day. The amphitheatre though is crumbling as a result of the removal of many of the building's blocks to help in the building of Seville throughout the medieval times. The ruins of Italica are an architectural beauty that one must set out time to visit when in Seville or Spain for that matter. Other interesting relics from this era can be seen at Seville's Archeological Museum.
If the Romans left a mark in Seville, it is the Islamic occupation that lasted for more than 700 years from 711 AD that completely changed the landscape of the city and is embedded in the city's persona to this day. With the city's new rulers came a name change to Isbiliah. Beautiful architecture demonstrating a mastery of building engineering skills came up. One of these was the Toro del Oro, a watchtower built to strengthen the city's defenses. Others were the Torre de Plata, Macarena Walls, Giralda, Alcazar, the Triana area and the Patio de los Naranjos.
The Islamic civilization eventually fell to the Crusade armies from northern Europe. In an effort to remove the dominant Islamic architecture that had over the preceding centuries become part of the city, the new rulers embarked on an aggressive campaign to visually de-Islamize the city. Many mosques were either torn down or converted into churches. In this regard, in 1401 the Gothic Cathedral was built on the same site that one of the large mosques once stood. The cathedral is a famous must-visit monument for visitors not only to Seville but Spain as well. It still stands as one of the largest structures from the medieval times. Despite this rise in new buildings over the years, many of the buildings from the Moslem era have survived to this day.
There are many other mirrors of Seville history that one can see. The Town Hall built using the Plateresque style during the 16th century. There is also the University of Seville built in the 18th century using the Baroque style. It is interesting to note that it was once a tobacco factory. In Spain, the classical painting collection in Seville is only second to that in Madrid.
It would take a lot of effort for a visitor to Seville not to be enchanted by its beauty. Traveling to Seville is even made easier for you because it is easier and cheaper for you to book your hotel and holiday online.
by: Gaizka Pujana
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