2 Days in Seville Spain – Part 1

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As we were arriving in Seville our guide advised us that due to Easter Celebrations our itinerary would be changed.  She also advised that our bus would have 20 minutes to stop to allow us to alight from the bus and have our suitcases taken into the Hotel Colon Grand Melia.  As it was Easter a lot of streets are closed to allow the religious processions to proceed.

Walking into the hotel we were greeted to a stunning foyer.   Bright red chairs  in the shape of petals.

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One of the many red chairs shaped like petals

The ceiling was also amazing!

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The ceiling of the foyer in the Hotel Colon Grand Melia

The hotel is right in the middle of the historical and cultural, commercial and financial heart of the city.

Easter in Seville is certainly a different way of celebrating as we do in Australia.  Here in Australia for most not all mind you its a 4 day weekend and as its usually around school holidays and Anzac Day, Australians go on holiday.

In Seville  its Seville Semana Santa (Holy week in Seville) commemorates the passion and death of Christ through religious processions done by the brotherhood of the city’s Cathedral from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday. … You can enjoy privileged views, almost touching Christ or Mary as the processions pass bay.

The processions wouldn’t have the usual floats of religious icons due to the weather.  It was very wet and cold still.  I really feel for the Spanish people as this year due to the COVD19 there would be no processions.  These traditions are what makes the people of Seville Spain.

A quick check of our room and we wandered off to get a look at Seville before we found something for dinner.

Usually thousands of people book a seat to be able to watch the processions, however these seats were empty  due to the rain.  As we walked the streets we saw many people dressed in medieval robes. Bare feet seemed the norm.  All different colors ranging from black to purple.  These are “brotherhoods” and as we found out later,  going barefoot was a way of penance to absolve sins.

 

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Some of the brotherhood

We found this information  from a waiter at a restaurant we were thinking of having something to eat.  He told us that he would join the procession shortly with bare feet.  He hoped his feet would bleed, this would help absolve his sins.

We didn’t eat at the restaurant as there was nothing gluten free, instead opting to head back to the hotel to get a drink. Both us were not hungry…unusual for me.

Many women were wearing the traditional Spanish dress.

 

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Isn’t her traditional headpiece stunning.

 

 

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Our huge glasses before the most important ingredient was added!

 

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Thank you it was very tasty! Yes the glasses were like fish bowls. Yes it had alcohol in it and not just coke cola.

 

We throughly enjoyed our drinks with the nibbles that were provided.  We watched on the big screen in the bar Iris Apfel who at that time was the icon of the hotel.

 

Back in our room we shared a treat that had been left for us.

 

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Our hotel backed onto one of the many churches in Seville.  The street below was a constant procession of chanting and music. Many channels on the TV showed the procession all night.  Sleep was something we both longed for but only got in short bursts. We opened our window and watched some of the procession go past.

 

I took this from the TV

The next day was going to be busy.  A walk through the city streets after breakfast and a visit to the Seville Cathedral.  This picture below is the first I saw of the Cathedral.

 

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The Seville Cathedral

The Cathedral was completed in 1507 and stands on the ground that used to be the City’s former mosque.  This cathedral was to display wealth and prestige over the vanquished Moorish Kings.  It is the largest Medieval Church in the world.

 

 

 

Inside, the Cathedral was just as stunning as the outside.  Beautiful stained glass windows.

One of the many stained glass windows inside the Cathedral

 

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The organ pipes

 

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The intricate carvings

 

Seville’s cathedral also contains the tomb of Christopher Columbus – the Spanish explorer whose discovery of the New World in 1492 was so crucial to Seville’s economic success in the 16th and 17th centuries.

 

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Christopher Columbus Tomb

 

We were then split up into two  groups depending on what we requested.  One group went for tastes of Spain ours was for cultural Spain.

Both groups were at the same hotel – I think we were supposed to go to a private house for our demonstration of the Shawl and Fan.  This was due to the Easter Celebrations and not being able to board our coach.

We learnt the history of the Shawl  and the fan and how to dance with the shawl and fan. The other group drank wine and had nibbles . (we were given water)

The Language of the Fan

  • Fan yourself slowly shows a lack of interest or indifference.
  • Support the fan on the cheeks – if it rests on the left cheek it wanted to transmit a ‘ no ‘, whereas if it rests on the right cheek it was a ‘ yes ‘.
  • Striking with the fan denotes impatience.
  • Passing the fan through the eyes is a sign of apology.
  • If you support your lips on the edge of the fan, you want to transmit distrust or disbelief.
  • If the fan rods are counted, we are showing the desire to engage in a conversation with the other person.

The shawl originated China  and started to become a fashion statement in the 1800’s in Spain. Its a traditional womens accessory in Spain and Latin America. The shawl is also used in Flamenco Dancing which we would see at dinner this night.

Our two hour class was mostly in Spanish with a little bit of translation.

Rich and poor and Gypsy’s all wore these shawls in Spain.

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This Shawl is beautiful.

I had to get my hands on one of these shawls.  Unfortunately  shops that sold them in Seville were closed due to Easter Celebrations.

Muriel and I wandered around Seville for a short time then decided to have a nap before our dinner and show of Traditional Flamenco Dancing.

 

During the main performance we were not allowed to take any photos or video’s.

Once the music began it hijacked me and took me to a place that I had been before.  Was it a past life?  I felt even beat and every word in my soul. Had I been a Gypsy and these songs were my life.  A life I had lived once so long ago.

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Our group at dinner before the show

The last 15 minutes we were allowed to take photos and videos of the performance. I took quite a few and I will put them up on Instagram.

 

 

When the music stopped and the lights came on I had to take a minute to realize where I was.  2019 not 1829!

 

I laid my head on the pillow and slept like I had never slept before.

 

 

 

** The next day would be an early start of a ride in a horse drawn carriage and a visit to the Alcazar and the Plaza de Espania**

** The first picture is of a bakery with all the different “brotherhoods” in the window.

 

 

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36 thoughts on “2 Days in Seville Spain – Part 1”

  3. What a glorious trip and your photos and descriptions are fabulous. I shared on SM and am visiting from #MLSTL, where I shared How to Use Chakra Colors to Renew Energy and Create Wellness .

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  4. My daughter was lucky enough to spend three months teaching in Seville at a bilingual primary school as part of the Erasmus teacher exchange scheme. She was able to join in some of the Easter preparations but was disappointed by the lack of chocolate.

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  6. It sounds like you picked an interesting time to be in town (even if the shops were shut!) I was always blown away by the size and grandeur of the cathedrals we saw everywhere in Europe – amazing the money that went into these monuments and it always bemused me that money was spent on these rather than on the poor.
    Thanks for linking up with us at MLSTL and I’ve shared on my SM 😊

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  7. The language of the fan was really interesting. I’ve often wondered what Easter in Italy or Spain would be like and it sounds as though you arrived at the right time – although maybe not the best time for sleep!

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  9. Thank you for reminding me the beauty of Seville. It’s a gorgeous city. I loved Spain and were there twice visiting different cities, including Seville. I had planned a third trip in March but it was cancelled due to the covid-19 pandemic. i got full refunds so will plan a trip when it’s safe to do so. #MLSTL

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  11. This looks like a wonderful visit. The cathedral is gorgeous and I’m with you on wanting one of those shawls. I think I would have been a little creeped out by the people in robes. The costumes are a little too reminiscent of the hate group, Ku Klux Klan in the US., although I’m sure their purpose is not the same.

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    • Nancy I thought the same about the Klu klux Klan also and I think I whispered to Muriel the same. Yes the cathedral is fascinating and stunning. Thank you…I did get a shawl in Madrid but not as stunning and big as the one pictured. Although I do get a lot of comments on how gorgeous it is.

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  14. I was in Seville for Semana Santa and it was an incredible experience! See all those purple robes and pointy hats brought back memories, so thank you for that.

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  16. Hi ladies! Amazing pics! So I gather that travel wasn’t yet locked down when you went on this extraordinary trip? I’d have been so nervous about the virus, though, especially since you all have underlying illnesses. Ay yi…

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    • It was April 2019. Me too re the virus basically stayed home except for trips to the drs and hospital. I was finally tested after 4 -5 weeks of symptoms of COVD19..got sick once our move was done. Drs and specialists all said I had it but they the testing units refused to test me. Our area was a hot spot due to a couple who had the virus and still went out and about. so in the 5th week I was tested. I had a cough only by then. came up negative…my dr still thinks I had it.

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