Spent time at the very beautiful Plaza de Espana built as the Spanish expo for the 1929 Ibero-American Expo. Now used as government offices and all set in a park. Tiled niches representing each province in Spain and depicting a key historic event in the life of the province.
Did a tour past the pavilions of some other nations such as Argentina, Guatemala, Columbia. Saw the tobacco factory made famous by The opera Carmen.
Then a tour of the Alcatraz. A stunning building with the renowned Moorish design and decoration and set in the most beautiful gardens. Then a walk through the old Jewish quarter, similar to the one in Córdoba.
We are here during Semana Santa - Holy Week- a very big festival. Every hotel room in Sevilla was booked, with many visitors from overseas and other parts of Spain. Easter processions are a highlight- thousands of people eating the hood and robes of the penitents, some walking barefoot or carting light wooden crosses. The the huge, heavy elaborate floats showing Biblical scenes. There are many processions associated with different parishes or brotherhoods. We saw one where penitents wore a crimson hood and where many of the penitents were children. Perhaps because of this it had a festive air rather than a sober one. Parents and families were also part of the procession, children were lifting their hoods to eat sandwiches and drink Coke, mothered were doing running repairs on the costumes and,at one stage a hawker selling balloons with Disney characters wandered into the procession. The float we saw depicted the crucifixion.
Really liked Sevilla - a return visit definitely warranted!
You were so lucky to see easter processions,such a highlight. I thought your timing may coincide. Love the blog and your photos or are they Ian's. Enjoy.
ReplyDeleteLindsay & Giselle