This is an area of lively pedestrian streets, -lined with shops-, many of them hundreds of years old.
A walk through this area begins at the Jesuit Temple of La Anunciación, a Renaissance construction by Hernán Ruiz with paintings by Roelas and sculptures by Montañés. Continuing along Martín Villa the traveller arrives at La Campana, the nucleus of life in Seville. This point marks the beginning of the famous street, Sierpes, and is an obligatory point of passage for all the Sevillian Brotherhoods during the Easter Week processions. Situated very near La Campana is the Square of El Duque, lined on all sides by large stores. At one end of the square stands the Church of San Antonio Abad, belonging to the Brotherhood of Silence. Inside it contains a Nazarene sculpture of the 17th century by Francisco de Ocampo. From this point, we suggest continuing on to the shopping street of San Eloy, which connects to Tetúan, another pedestrian steet that is full of shops. Turn left at Jovellanos will take the traveller to the splendid small Chapel of San José (early 18th century). It is characterised by its small dimensions amplified by the Baroque decorations. Upon leaving, the visitor should stop at Sierpes, the most famous shopping street of Seville and location of the Royal Gaol. In the 19th century, this area was the site of a large number of casinos and cafés, an open forum for cattle dealers, entertainment of bullfighters and famous intellectual gatherings.
Crossing through Sagasta Street to the splendid El Salvador square (the saviour), presided by the statue of the sculptor, Martínez Montañés, and two renowned buildings the Hospital of San Juan de Dios and the Parish Church of the Divino Salvador, one of the biggest and richest temples of the city, built on top of the primitive mosque of lbn Adabbas. Only the washing patio and Minaret it is remain. The church contains three gigantic altarpieces and some outstanding religious images like the Crucificado del Amor by Juan de Mesa and the Nazareno de Pasión by Martínez Montañés. From the square the traveller can visit the traditional shops of the streets Francos, Placentinos, and Álvarez Quintero, with their modernist and regionalist showcases from ages gone by, union lead into the Square of San Francisco formerly the main square of Seville. This location was the site of important civic/religious ceremonies and executions. Today, stands are set up in this location to watch the passage of processions for Easter Week and Corpus Christi. Facing the square is one of the façades of the City Hall, important representation of Spanish Plateresque art. Diego de Riaño designed the vestibule, town hall and façade. In the mid-19th century, taking advantage of the wide space left by the demolition of the convent of San Francisco, the building was enlarged, fitting it with a new façade facing the Nueva Square. Not far away, the Reyes Católicos street leads the traveller to the impressive structure of the Church of La Magdalena, former Dominican convent which, in addition to that of El Salvador, constitutes the most important Baroque heritage of Seville. On the outside of the building the cupola is the most distinguishing element with figures inspired in pre-Colombian motifs and a triple bell gable. Inside, the building contains frescoes of Lucas Valdés and works of Pedro Roldán, Francisco Ocampo, Valdés Leal and Zurbarán.
Where To Go?
