Travel Agent- March 30, 2009 - (Page 12) DESTINATIONS EUROPE During Feria, Sevillanos celebrate their history by partying all week long Spring in SEVILLE Two annual events make this Spanish city bloom UPON ARRIVAL IN SEVILLE, the first thing travelers see is the Cathedral of Seville’s belltower, La Giralda. Once the minaret of a mosque that stood on the same spot, La Giralda still has its original Arab design that has survived almost a thousand years of turbulent history. Upon drawing closer to the tower, however, one notices that it isn’t as tall as it appears at first glance. In fact, it only seems to be about 15 stories high. Ask any Sevillano why the highest point in the city is so low, and he will answer with pride: Centuries ago, the city agreed that nothing would be taller than the belltower of the cathedral. When skyscrapers began to bloom in other cities, Seville stuck to the ancient decree and sprawled out rather than up. Unlike Madrid, 12 | TravelAgent March 30, 2009 BY JENA TESSE FOX Barcelona or even Málaga, Seville has become a thriving modern city that maintains an intimate, old-fashioned vibe, making history seem contemporary. This isn’t hard. The city’s history goes back (at least) to Roman times, when it was Hispalis, a major port on the Guadalquivir River. Conquering Arabs renamed it Hisbilyya, and the city acquired its current name after the Catholic re-conquest. Architecture and artwork from all of these periods commingle throughout the city, and drivers on major roads can zoom past remnants of an ancient Roman aqueduct or the Moorish Torre del Oro. The cathedral itself, which took over a century to build around the belltower, is now one of the largest in the world. It is also said to be the burial place of Christopher Columbus, who set sail for the New World from Seville and brought back many riches to its ports, including tobacco (in fact, the city’s University is housed in the former cigar factory in which the opera Carmen is set). Narrow medieval streets feature modern stores and restaurants, and across from an Internet café on Calle Sierpes is a small plaque announcing that Miguel de Cervantes began writing Don Quixote de la Mancha on that spot. Spring Traditions Two of Seville’s most popular and enduring traditions take place in spring, and CONTINUED ON PAGE 14 PHOTO BY ERIN BOHLER
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