Seville A Sultry Spanish City

Seville One of the Worlds Sexiest Cites

This short piece in The Sunday Times Travel section (The World’s Twelve Sexiest Cities) reminded me of my own experince in the city of Seville – which promted the creation of the post Confortel Seville 3 Star Hotel – Three Cats Arses More Like follwing the rejection of my laterooms full review – you can see the edited version here – January 2008

Late nights, flamenco beats, Moorish palaces and sultry heat: Seville has a stunningly sexy side – and there’s not a polka dot in sight.

Seville is served by its own airport – Ryanair flies from Stansted to Seville, but most visitors from the UK take cheap flights to Spain arriving at Malaga airport and travel on using well serving public transport or picking up a rental vehicle form the many desks offering car hire in Spain although be aware – Spanish Cities weren’t built with car usage in mind and Seville tries to be car free in the centre.  Some travellers claim to enjoy the autobus services from Malaga bus station – however like Jimmy Saville encouraged many years ago – Take the Train!

What has Seville to offer for romantics

The Alcazar palace Patio de Banderas is tourist central, but beyond the building, there are impressive gardens with tiled gazebos, gangly palm trees, even a maze, so you can easily find a quiet corner.

Hire your own motorboat from the Pedalquivir bar (on the east riverbank, midway between Puente de San Telmo and Puente de Isabel II; £14 per hour) and sail together down the lazy Guadalquivir river.

The cathedral area gets packed at sunset, so cross the river to enjoy a more intimate aperitif. Abades Triana  is a swish bankside restaurant and bar. Order a beer on the quiet terrace as the sun sinks and the landmark Torre del Oro watchtower glows pink.

On the fashionable Alameda de Hercules promenade, Al Aljibe  is the antidote to Seville’s traditional rough-and-ready tapas bars. Modern Andalucían dishes (try slow-cooked lamb smeared with apricot purée and sticky prune sauce) are served in minimalist-yet-jazzy surroundings.

End the evening in the Arab baths of the Aire de Sevilla (advance booking essential). The crimson-walled, lantern-lit salt baths, whirlpool tubs and hammam are open until 1.30am.

Finish the weekend with a flourish at the bar (there’s also a restaurant and pool) on the roof of the terribly cool Hotel EME (00 34 954 560000, www.emecatedralhotel.com). The music’s chilled, the atmosphere’s relaxed and the prices reasonable, but it’s the view – you’re (almost) within touching distance of the cathedral – that will seduce you.

Hotel Alfonso XIII  has Moorish arches, glittering tiles and a central courtyard for intimate evenings. Casa Romana is one of Seville’s few modern hotels. Expect bright rooms, airy courtyards, sundeck and a whirlpool tub on the roof.