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Highlights of our Free Walking Tour Seville Spain Review [updated 2024]

Seville, the capital city of Spain’s Andalusia region, is a vibrant and historic destination that offers an array of cultural treasures to explore. One of the best ways to get acquainted with this enchanting city is through a free walking tour. Whether you’re a history buff, architecture enthusiast, or simply curious about local culture, joining a free walking tour in Seville guarantees an unforgettable experience. From its stunning Gothic cathedral and royal Alcázar palace to its picturesque neighbourhoods and charming hidden gems, here’s what you can expect on a free walking tour of Seville.

Are you an Instagram fan? You will find some of the best Instagrammable spots in Seville Spain, so make sure you have your camera ready.

If you are considering visiting Seville there are plenty of things to see and do in the city but because of its location, there are some great day trips from Seville to be had as well.

What are Free Walking Tours

Free walking tours are tours conducted in cities by locals.  They are free but tips are encouraged.

How do you know how much to tip on a free walking tour?

We look at the tipping process in four ways:

  1. What is the length of the free walking tour
  2. How many people have attended the tour
  3. Was the tour guide worth a tip
  4. What is the price of a paid walking tour in the same city

On average we have tipped anywhere between USD 5 – USD 25 per person or Euros 5 – Euros 25 per person depending on the criteria above.

A photo of the group is usually taken at the beginning or at the end of the tour. Not only is this a good promotional idea for their Facebook page it is also proof of how many people were on the tour that day for management.

Free walking tours, in general, will not enter buildings where there are paid entrance fees, these can be visited later by yourselves.

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Free Walking Tour Seville

Good to know: there are various tours throughout the day at different times in English and Spanish. They may vary in route.

The tour started in Plaza Nueva near the Ayuntamiento (Town Hall) at 10.30 a.m. (Check your starting point as it may differ depending on your tour)  You can’t miss the guides from FreeTourSevilla – the yellow umbrella is up and waiting for you.  Our guide Miguel was passionate about Seville! This is what we learnt and saw on our free walking tour of Sevilla.

Plaza Nuevo Seville

 

Statue of King Fernando III Seville

After a few minutes wait, we were off and the first place was where we were standing right in the centre of the Plaza where there is a statue dedicated to King Fernando III who reconquered the city from the Moors in 1248.  Between 1270 and 1840 the Plaza was occupied by the Convento Casa Grande de San Francisco. The Plaza is a new square (hence Plaza Nueva) only 150 years old, whereas most of the buildings in Seville were constructed during the 16, 17 and 18th centuries.

The Town Hall Seville

The Ayuntamiento in Seville

The Ayuntamiento (Town Hall) took 30 years to build from 1526 to 1556 under the direction of Diego de Riano.  It was built on the remains of the former San Francisco Monastery.  There is a legend around the archway of the Ayuntamiento; if you walk underneath the archway you will never get married. Miguel walks through the archway every day and he informs us with a laugh that he is still not married, maybe there is some truth to this legend.  The Town Hall is used today for weddings and formal receptions, it is where the City Mayor has his office.  It is also the place where demonstrations are held and today was no different, as we arrived a large, noisy demonstration was taking place.

Mysterious symbol of Seville

NO8DO – What does it mean?

This is the one time you watch where you walk! Throughout Seville, you will see the mysterious symbol NO8DO.  This symbol, with origins reaching back to the Middle Ages,  stands for ‘she will not abandon me’. King Alfonso X The Wise during the 13th Century fought a battle attack from his own son, Sancho for the throne. The people of Seville stayed strong with the King and he rewarded Seville with this slogan to celebrate its fidelity.  This photo is of one of the covers on the drains with the symbol showing.

 

Cathedral of Seville

Skip the line tickets and a guided tour of the Cathedral and Tower can be purchased in advance here.

Cathedral's Tower Seville

The external wall, the courtyard and the tower of the old Mosque were built during the 12th Century by the Moorish Dynasty the Almohads. Seville fell to the Christians in 1248.  The Christians took over the Mosque and used it as their place of worship until the 14th century when an earthquake destroyed the structure.   At this time the Christians decided to build the biggest Cathedral for all to enjoy and it was completed during the 15th Century.  It is the largest Gothic Cathedral in the world.  It is impressive and definitely worth a paid visit inside.

 

The Tower Seville Cathedral

The top of the tower is built in the Renaissance Gothic Cathedral. The tower should have been at the main gate but there were problems with the water locations in the city, instead, it was constructed here at the side facing the square. It is built of sandstone and marble. There is no rich decoration which is in line with Islam’s teaching which is to be humble. The woman on the weathervane at the top of the tower is the Greek God who represents ‘faith’. 35 ramps are located leading to the top of the tower, tall enough to allow a horse and rider to reach the top.  Ramps were easier for one person to climb up to the top of the tower five times a day for the call of prayer.

Christoper Columbus who died in poverty in Valladolid in Spain is buried inside the Cathedral.

It is now classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

To Travel Too Tip

For entrance into the Cathedral without queueing, we recommend that you visit the El Salvador Church in the Place del Salvador, your ticket purchase includes entry into the Cathedral – bypassing the queues.  It is one of the most beautiful churches in Andalusia and houses a lot of artwork.

 

 

The Alcazar of Seville

 

The Alcazar of Seville

The Alcazar was built during the 8th century.  It was the Palace of the Governors of the City. The courtyard was used for the set of the Court of the King of Jerusalem in the movie “Kingdom of Heaven” a Scott Ridley production.  The 5th season of the Games of Thrones was set here and around Seville.  It is the oldest royal residence still in use today in Europe.  It is definitely worth spending a few hours wandering through the royal residence and its gardens.  The best way to visit the Alcazar of Spain is via a guided tour with fast-track entry.

The General Archives of the Indies Seville

The General Archives of the Indies in SevilleGeneral Archives of the Indies

In front of the Alcazar is the General Archives of the Indies. It houses the most important archives of the world with copies of all documents pertaining to the history of the Spanish Empire in the Americas and in the Philippines.

Silver Tower or Torre de la Plata Seville

Silver Tower Seville

The Silver Tower was built in the 13th century in an octagonal structure by the Almohads.  It was used as a defensive tower as it was close to the river.  Its purpose was to protect the port and a place where taxes were collected on arrival at the port.

The Golden Tower of Seville

The Golden Tower Seville

The Golden Tower was built around 1220 by the Almohads.  It was part of the defensive walls around Seville and linked to the Silver Tower.  The Golden Cuppola at the top was an added addition during 1760.

San Telmo Palace Seville

San Telmo Palace Seville

On Paseo de Roma is the San Telmo Palace. It was constructed in the Baroque style during the 17th century as a university for sailors and navigators.   The name San Telmo was given to the Palace as it was named after the Patron Saint of all Sailors.  The women around the columns of the palace hold the names of the subjects that the students need to pass in their studies.

In the middle 19th century the Duke of Montpensier bought the Palace. The Duke lived there for 50 years before he died, on his death, his widow gave the Palace to the Archdiocese and also gave the city 59 hectares of land.  It is now used as the seat of the presidency of the Andalusian Autonomous Government.

Seville’s Royal Tobacco Factory

In 1492 the Spanish first came across the tobacco plant when they discovered America.  The Royal Tobacco Factory was first established here in Europe during the 18th century. Tobacco was used to make snuff, later they realised it was quite a lengthy process and a heavier workload, so they turned to making cigars instead.  Women were employed to make the cigars as they were better at the rolling process than men were. A moat was constructed around the building, it was built to protect the tobacco workers from an attack.  If, as an employee, you arrived late for work you were imprisoned in the factory overnight and the moat was used as a deterrent in escaping. It is now part of the University of Seville.

Plaza de Espana Seville

Plaza de Espana was built in 1928 for the Ibero-American Exposition of 1929.  It was designed by Gonzales in a semi-circle structure representing the four Kingdoms of Spain.

It was featured as the Arabian Headquarters in the film ‘Lawrence of Arabia’ and also appeared in the Star Wars Episode 2 Movie.

This was a very impressive sight to end the walking tour with.  We had our photos taken with Miguel, said how much we enjoyed his knowledge of his town and we left to wander through the Plaza.  Under the arches, we listened to a young man play a haunting flamenco tune on his Spanish guitar whilst his partner stamped her feet and with arms flying and castanets clicking, performed a fiery traditional flamenco dance.

Website: Free Tours Sevilla

Tour Guide: Miguel – English Speaking Tour

Have you enjoyed a Free Walking Tour?

You may be interested in reading our other articles on our Free Walking Tours around the world:

Looking for Where to Stay in Seville?

Our favourite neighbourhood is Santa Cruz which is the medieval Jewish quarter and close to all the top things to do in Seville.

The 18-room 5-star luxury hotel is Casa del Poeta, Don Carlos Alonso Chaparro Street. This hotel was once a 17th-century mansion which has been renovated and has a large rooftop terrace with amazing views.

Guest review:

The location was absolutely perfect. Central affording easy strolls into restaurants and tapas bars. Main sightseeing locations are all 19 minutes walk. The hotel has the most charming central courtyard which serves as a lovely cool oasis in the middle of a very hot Seville. The staff could not be kinder or more attentive. Don’t hesitate to book here for your city break.

 

For 4-star accommodation, the Hotel Palacio Alcazar at Plaza de la Alianza 11 in the Old Town is an 18th-century restored house with a stylish terrace 100 m from the Cathedral.

Guest review: The property was in an excellent location which made a difference to our trip. Several main attractions are literally at your doorstep. The facilities were clean, the staff were friendly, great aircon system. no complaints!

 

More Sevilla Hotels:

For the latest airfare deals to Seville 

Seville’s Airport is 11 km from the city centre.

Find the cheapest flights with Skyscanner our go-to when researching and booking flights throughout the world.

You can arrange a private transfer from the Airport or the train station to your hotel. For more details click here.

Bus Travel in Spain

Bus travel is easy around Spain for details of the latest bus schedules and prices click here.

Car Rental in Spain

We use Autoeurope for car rentals in Spain and in Europe. Click here for more details.

Do you need an International Drivers License? You can obtain one online here within minutes.

Related Reading: Seville City Break Itinerary

Looking for more things to do in Seville?

Seville: Alcázar Guided Tour with Priority Entrance

Seville: Guadalquivir 1-Hour City Cruise

Seville: Flamenco Show and Andalusian Gastronomy Experience

Seville Cathedral & Giralda Tower: Guided Tour and Tickets

Seville: Cathedral Guided Tour with Priority Access

Seville: Cathedral, Giralda & Alcazar Entry With Guided Tour

 

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GPS

In conclusion, a free walking tour of Seville, Spain offers an excellent way to explore the city’s rich history and vibrant culture. From the stunning architecture of the Alcázar to the bustling streets of Triana, these tours provide a comprehensive introduction to Seville’s most iconic landmarks and hidden gems. With knowledgeable local guides leading the way, visitors can expect captivating stories, fascinating insights, and plenty of opportunities for memorable photographs. Whether you are a history enthusiast or simply looking for an authentic experience in Seville, a free walking tour is definitely worth considering as it allows you to delve deeper into this enchanting city while staying within your budget.

 

totraveltoo

Thanks for stopping by and welcome to To Travel Too – Australia’s top Baby Boomer lifestyle and travel blog, with an international worldwide audience in mind, run by the married couple, freelance writers and full-time travellers Jane and Duncan Dempster-Smith. Come with us as we explore the world. Our two mantras that we live by are 'chase time not money' and 'age is no barrier when it comes to travel'.

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