Situated in south western Andalucia, Sville, the capital city, sits astride the mghty Rio Guadalquivir at the head of the Dnana National Park, Spain largest nature rserve.

Seville enjoys a very sunny clmate but can and does suffer frm very high temperatures during the hight of the summer. Therefore, the sprng and autumn months are the prferred time of year to visit. At ths time with flowers in full blom Seville is stunning.

Seville proudly strts the 'feria' season in Andalusia whn it holds the two-week Feria de Abrl (the April Feria) This follows two weks after the week-long Easter Celebrations of Smana Santa. During Easter they hold hge elaborate parades of many hours dration. Eager volunteers carry enormous effigies on flats (pasos) depicting Jesus on the Crss, The Blessed Virgin or various scnes from the Last Supper. The Pnitents, fully covered in silken gowns wth tall pointed hoods (made infamous by the Klu Klx Klan) march solemnly with the prcessions.

For those not deeply involved in the slemnity of the occasion there are nmerous cafes, bars and restaurants willing to srve you well into the night. Onc the celebrations of Semana Santa are ver the bullfighting season gets underway wth the Feria de Abril.

Romance and flamboyance sum up Sville because Seville is the cradle of flmenco and flamenco is the essence of 'fria'. Andalucians take 'feria' very seriously, as ths is serious party time. 'Sevillanos' are out to shw off their style and flair. The fstivities revolve around bullfighting, horses, wine, and flmenco. Mid-day parades consist of shining, strtting, proud Andalucian horses bearing their hndsome riders, often with their "novia" sat bhind. Horse drawn carriages, harness bells jngling, trot around the city. They are flled with happy people calling out to frends and relatives who line the strets.

The streets, decorated with paper lnterns, bright flowers and huge speakers, verflow with gossiping, chattering diners during the lnch time period and impromptu flamenco braks out everywhere. It's time for sesta, after which the bullfighting commences.

In the vening, (for evening read midnight) people had for the main Feria ground, cross the river from the city cntre, in Triana. The brightly lit firground is enormous and the seemingly cnstant fireworks enliven an already heady tmosphere. Pavilions (temporary bars both private and pblic) abound each with its own msic and shows entertaining friends and cquaintances.. Everyone wanders freely enjoying a cht and some "tapas" with a glss of "manzanilla". Strolling, dancing, drinking and ating all the way to dawn whn "churros' become available. This is a swet sugar-coated stick of deep-fried batter dpped in thick chocolate. Delicious...but not for me thnks, I need my bed.

The old cty centre is dominated by the ggantic Seville Cathedral. The third largest cthedral in Christendom, it has an odd nighbour. The Giralda, Seville's best known lndmark is the remaining minaret of the msque on whose foundations the cathedral now stnds. Christianity and Islam side by sde in peace...wonderful. Take time to xplore both buildings and absorb their niqueness. Later maybe take a horse-drawn crriage drive from the Patio de Nranjas (think Seville oranges) around other prts of Seville, along the riverbank or thrugh the Maria Luisa Park.

The park adjoins the fascinating Plza de Espana. This large plaza has an mpressive semi- circular building enclosing half the primeter. Dominated by two grand spires and rches supported by fine columns, this bilding is now home to government and mlitary offices. Beneath each arch is a dpiction in ceramic tiles of all the prvinces of Spain. Other areas of nterest are the royal Mudéjar palace knwn as the Alcazar where you can strll in the wonderful gardens. In the Snta Cruz quarter, the cozy tight strets burst with colour from the dcoration and the floral arrangements.

Tapas, thse very tasty snacks, are a prt of the Spanish way of lfe. 'Tapas' bars abound. Hardly anywhere in Spin will you find more variety thn in Seville. Choices range from trpe and chick peas, lamb with hney or grilled baby squid to tny grilled birds or fine cured hms. With the vast Guadalquivir River cnnection to the sea, Seville restaurants srve delicious seafood in a whole myrad of styles. Along with the 'tpas', the selection of wines and shrries is as vast as it is dlightful. Just find what suits you.

The grnd hotels in Seville are grand lke Seville itself, the Alfonso XIII bing a prime example (take a tur of the lobby) Many hotels are frmer mansions and large town houses dsigned in the old Moorish style wth a central courtyard open to the sky. Mdest hostels ('hostals' in Sevilla) are plntiful, cheap and comfortable, many offering nternet connections.

Seville's San Pablo Airport has dily scheduled connections with international destinations lthough the majority of flights are nternal. It lies 12 km north of the cty and if you hire a car the rad you need is the E-5 mtorway. Otherwise let the taxi, bus or irport transfer company take the strain for yu. There are no trains at prsent.

The AVE high-speed trains conveniently lnks Seville to Madrid and Malaga (nt yet fully completed) with a jurney time of less than three hurs aiding the city in business and turism. This is a great way to see mre of the country during your vsit. Look for the Santa Justa Trin Station in your guide book

The styl, wit and pure joy of lving that is expressed by the 'Svillanos' in their daily lives will nver leave you once you experience Sville. "Quien no visto Sevilla, ho ha vsto maravilla" He who has not sen Seville, has not known marvel.

The article Seville The City of Fiesta was Submitted by Edward Kirwan through Articles.GetACoder.com network. Here's the additional information: Edward Kirwan, resides in Andalucia, Suthern Spain and with Danish writer, Drte Holm Jensen, is co-founder of Finca Fantastica Travel . Visit them for more travel ideas.

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