Art & History Abroad Tours
Seville: Shifting Worlds & Culture
Seville is one of the most alluring cities in Europe with streets lined with orange trees and a wealth of glorious buildings, as well as a lovely Mediterranean climate.
Its historic centre, dominated by its colossal Gothic cathedral, is an intoxicating mix of Moorish Palaces, Baroque churches and winding medieval lanes, with a host of tapas bars and restaurants to tempt you.
It is the home of Flamenco, too, with small shows keeping the intimacy and intensity of this centuries-old tradition alive, whilst aristocratic mansions recall the city’s past as a showcase Moorish capital and, later, a 16th-century metropolis rich on the back of New World trade.
We will explore the evolution of the city’s culture in the company of art historian, Andrew Spira, who will illuminate this lustrous city’s artistic and architectural highlights.
what’s included
At A Glance
MEET YOUR EXPERT GUIDE
Andrew Spira
Andrew graduated from the Courtauld Institute of Art before completing a master’s degree in Museum and Gallery Management. He worked at the Temple Gallery as a specialist in Byzantine and Russian icons and later became a curator at the Victoria and Albert Museum.
At the V&A, Andrew specialised in eighteenth-century British art and design and metalwork, while his wider interests include Russian art and European cultural history. His tours draw connections between art, architecture and ideas, offering travellers an insightful and thought-provoking way to explore each destination.
itinerary & excursions
Your Itinerary
Explore this incredible tour in detail and discover what makes each day so special. Below, you’ll find a full day-by-day breakdown of your journey, from the moment you arrive to your final farewell. Learn more about the highlights you’ll experience, the unforgettable places you’ll visit, and the unique moments that bring each destination to life. Whether you’re drawn by rich history, stunning landscapes or unforgettable cultural encounters, this itinerary gives you everything you need to picture your adventure and look forward to every step of the way.
Day 1: Fly from London Gatwick to Seville
Fly from London Gatwick to Seville and transfer by coach to your hotel for four-night stay. This afternoon (time permitting), Andrew will conduct a short orientation walk to allow you to get your bearings.
Welcome drink and lecture at the hotel – ‘An Exotic Mix: the Muslims, Jews and Christians of Medieval Seville’ – and dinner with wine at a local restaurant.
Day 2: Royal Alcazar, Cathedral & Hospital Los Venerables
Today we visit three of Seville’s crowning glories, starting with the Alcazar. A magnificent marriage of Christian and Mudéjar architecture, Seville’s royal palace complex is a breathtaking sight. Originally developed as a fort in 913, it has been revamped many times over the 11 centuries of its existence, most spectacularly in the 14th century when King Pedro added the sumptuous Palacio de Don Pedro, still today the Alcázar’s crowning glory. More recently, the Alcázar featured as a location for the Game of Thrones TV series.
Almost adjacent is the city’s colossal Cathedral, the world’s largest Gothic Cathedral dating back to the 15th century. Highlights include the Giralda, the mighty bell tower, which incorporates the mosque’s original minaret, the monumental tomb of Christopher Columbus, and the Capilla Mayor with an astonishing gold altarpiece. Our last stop on foot is the wonderful Hospital los Venerables, a gem of a museum, housed in a former hospice for priests with a small but important collection of Spanish art including masterpieces by Velázquez and Murillo.
Evening lecture at the hotel: ‘Europe: the Making of Modern Seville’ and tapas dinner with wine at a local restaurant.
Day 3: Full day Seville – Plaza de Toros, Iglesia Colegial del Divino Salvador, Archivo de Indias and Casa de Pilatos
Another full day’s exploration on foot of this beautiful city, with some of its famous and rather less well-known sights, starting with the very famous Plaza de Toros de la Real Maestranza de Caballería de Sevilla, to give the 18th century Bull Ring its full name, a monument and museum in a spectacular setting close to our hotel. A guided tour will show you some of the highlights. From here to the Iglesia Colegial del Divino Salvador, overlooking Plaza del Salvador, a baroque church built between 1674 and 1712 on the site of Muslim Ishbiliya’s main mosque. Its red-brick facade masks a cavernous, light-filled interior crowned by a soaring dome and filled with extravagant gold altarpieces.
Then to the Archivo de Indias Museum, housed in the ancient merchants’ exchange of Seville, which tells the story of the Spanish Empire in the Americas and Asia. And finally, we head to the beautiful Casa de Pilatos, still occupied by the ducal Medinaceli family, one of the city’s most glorious mansions. Originally dating to the late 15th century, it incorporates a wonderful mix of Mudéjar, Gothic and Renaissance decor, with some beautiful tilework and ceilings of interlaced beams. Return by coach to the hotel with the evening free. A Flamenco show is something not to be missed in Seville with nightly performances at a host of venues throughout the city.
Day 4: Monasterio Santa Paula, Palace of the Countess of Lebrija and Museum of Fine Arts
By coach to the Monastery of Santa Paula, with access through a mysterious closed door that leads to a beautiful chapel and a small but beautiful collection of art as well as a small shop selling the famous marmalade made by the Jeronimas nuns.
From here on foot to the Palace of the Countess of Lebrija, dating back to the 16th century and containing a collection of art including Roman mosaics.
Finally, to Seville’s Museum of Fine Arts, housed in a glorious building dating back to 1594 and home to a superb collection of mainly Spanish paintings. Evening at leisure, perhaps to wander across the river to the atmospheric Triana neighbourhood.
Day 5: Return to the UK
Transfer to Seville Airport for return flight to London Gatwick.
our guests say
Recent reviews
“Thoroughly enjoyable exploration of this beautiful city lead by our wonderful expert guide Andrew. The hotel was excellent and perfectly located for visiting sights. My first organised tour and I’m looking forward to many more.”
Ablett, December 2024
“A very enjoyable holiday with a busy and varied itinerary. Andrew and the local guide Pilar were both excellent. The hotel was very good, and very well located. The last full day was slightly unbalanced, with a long gap between the 1st and 2nd visits of the day, but everything we visited was worthwhile.”
Baker, December 2024
“The tour was very good though very busy. The local guide was excellent, and it would have been good to have her throughout. Andrew was good, very knowledgeable.”
Anonymous, December 2024
“Great tour, Andrew was superb with his information and droll asides. Also liked local guide Pilar who knew her subjects and loved her city.”
Anonymous, December 2024
Availability
Choose Your Departure
HOTELS
Tour Accommodation
Hotel Becquer, Seville
Modern, four-star hotel in the centre of the city, close to the Plaza de Toros and about 10 minutes walk from the Cathedral, housed in the old stately home of the Marquises of La Torres. Stylish and comfortable, the hotel has a bar, restaurant and very comfortable bedrooms with all modern amenities including en-suite bathroom, TV, telephone, free wifi, air-conditioning, safe and hairdryer.
Hotel Website
our regular tours
Mobility Information
This tour has a demanding fitness rating and is designed for travellers who enjoy a more active pace of exploration. While it is not a walking holiday, you should expect busy days with extended periods on your feet and visits where conditions may be more varied. These may include uneven terrain, cobbled streets, archaeological sites, steep paths, steps, stairs, limited handrails or fewer opportunities to sit and rest.
A good level of fitness and mobility will help you enjoy the full experience of the itinerary. Please read the day-by-day itinerary carefully, as we highlight specific practical details wherever possible. This may include notes about ground conditions, stairs, walking distances, coach access or sites where lifts are not available.
If you have any questions about whether this tour is suitable for you, please contact our team before booking. We are always happy to talk through the itinerary and help you make the right choice.
Your questions answered
Tour FAQ
If you have a question, we are more than happy to answer it via email or phone, but you may find your answer below more quickly.
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