Seville - how many times can you say Wow! in one day?

The Plaza de Toros de la Maestranza is Seville's famous bullring. It was built between 1760 and 1881 and as well as the ring, which is still used, it houses a museum of art and artefacts. The artist Goya expressed the horror of seeing his good friend killed in the bullring by sketching twenty four illustrations and these are in the museum. Where the costumes were beautiful and intricate works, the mounted bulls heads were horrific. The arena seats12,000 people.

The Real Alcázar or Royal Palace and fort was begun in the year 913. It is the most ancient royal palace still in use in Europe, and its architecture includes examples of Mudéjar, Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque styles. 

The Moorish style is the most spectacular with the intricate carving and stunning tiles on floors, walls and ceilings, indoors and outdoors.

The Alcázar's gardens are simply spectacular. The plantings are simple; laurel, lemons, agapanthus, monsterosa, roses, but it is the design combined with tiled fountains that set this garden apart. We spent hours in the palace and walking through the gardens.

We were enticed into riding in a horse driven coach and what a relaxing time it was. It showed us that we have walked almost all of the city, and also took us further into Maria Luisa Park.  As well as the ancient monuments of the Cathedral and the Alcázar, Seville has a great collection of beautiful public buildings all built for the 1929 Exposition.

 Our lunch stop was very entertaining as a street entertainer frightened people. What appeared to be three heads was actually only one live one. As people walked past he made strange noises or popped up. It frightened people a lot but was very funny and worth a donation for the good laugh!

After a rest at home we joined the ritual post 9 pm drinks with a bottle of tempranillo rosè at a nearby bar and followed this with a selection of fishy tapas served in a cone of paper. A cooler evening but after a stroll around the cathedral we lined up for ice-cream. Being in Spain I chose Creme de Catilan.