Guided walking tour of SevilleWe'll leave on foot for a guided tour of Seville, beginning with the Plaza de España—a majestic crescent-shaped complex arranged around a central square. Built for the 1929 Ibero-American Exposition to showcase Spain's industrial and technological exhibits, the building's tiled alcoves each represent a different province of Spain. The complex faces the Guadalquivir, signifying the prosperous trading route towards the Atlantic Ocean and the Americas. Architect Aníbal González combined a mix of 1920s Art Deco, "mock Mudejar” and Neo-Mudéjar styles, and the Vicente Traver fountain is found in the center. The Plaza de España has been used as a backdrop for many films, including Lawrence of Arabia, Star Wars Episode II, and The Dictator. We'll continue on to Santa Cruz, the most picturesque and delightful part of the city with narrow, winding cobbled streets and whitewashed houses. Formally the Jewish quarter, it remains part of the historical center of the city and contains many renowned monuments. In the 18th century, the neighborhood underwent a major process of urban renewal, and even today remains incredibly picturesque and full of history and hidden passageways. Afterwards, we'll visit the Alcazar Palace, which looks like a Moorish palace, but in fact was mostly built for the Christian king, Pedro the Cruel of Castile. The complex houses the current royal residence among its palaces. The extensive and fascinating buildings and grounds are regarded as one of the most outstanding examples of Mudéjar architecture found on the Iberian Peninsula. We'll return to the ship at the end of the morning. Duration: approx. 3:30 Please dress appropriately for the visit of the Cathedral. Good walking shoes are recommended. The order of the visits can change. Times are approximate. These excursions are not proposed for all the cruises and depend on the itinerary. If the minimum of 25 participants is not reached, the excursion may be either cancelled or proposed at another rate, depending on the number of participants (to be paid for on board). The excursions on the first evening and the morning following boarding are only guaranteed for the passengers who have booked the excursion before the cruise.
