Seville is the capital and largest city of the Spanish region of Andalusia and the province of Seville. It is located on the lower part of the River Guadalquivir, in the southwest of the Iberian Peninsula.

Seville has a population of about 686,741 people as of 2024, and more than 1.5 million people live in the surrounding area. This makes it the largest city in Andalusia and the fifth-largest city in Spain. The old town, which covers 4 square kilometers (2 square miles), is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that includes three important buildings: the Alcázar palace complex, the Cathedral, and the General Archive of the Indies. The Port of Seville, located about 80 kilometers (50 miles) from the Atlantic Ocean, is the only river harbor in Spain. Seville experiences very hot temperatures in the summer, with daily high temperatures often above 35°C (95°F) in July and August.

Seville was first built by the Romans as a city called Hispalis. After the Islamic conquest in 711, it was known as Ishbiliyah. Following the fall of the Caliphate of Córdoba in the early 11th century, Seville became the center of the independent Taifa of Seville. Later, it was ruled by the Almoravids and Almohads before being taken over by the Crown of Castile in 1248. Because of its role as a hub for the Spanish Empire’s transatlantic trade, managed by the Casa de Contratación, Seville became one of the largest cities in Western Europe during the 16th century. However, as drought conditions worsened along the Guadalquivir River, trade gradually shifted to downstream ports and eventually to the Bay of Cádiz. Control of the Indies fleets and the Casa de Contratación was later moved to Cádiz in 1680 and 1717, respectively.

During the 20th century, Seville faced challenges during the Spanish Civil War, hosted important cultural events like the Ibero-American Exposition of 1929 and Expo '92, and was chosen as the capital of the Autonomous Community of Andalusia.

Name

According to Manuel Pellicer Catalán, the name "Sevilla" comes from the ancient name "Spal," which means "lowland" in the Phoenician language. This word is similar to the Hebrew "Shfela" and the Arabic "Asfal." It originally comes from the Phoenician word "sefela," meaning "plain" or "valley." Another old name for Seville was "Hisbaal." This name may have been used during the time when the Phoenicians settled in the area of the Tartessian culture in southwestern Iberia. Some scholars suggest that "Hisbaal" refers to the god "Baal."

During Roman rule, the name was changed to "Hispal" and later to "Hispalis." After the Umayyad invasion, this name was still used by the Mozarabs, a group of Christians living under Muslim rule. The name was adapted into Arabic as "Išbīliya." In Arabic, the letter "p" is not used, so it was replaced with "b." The Latin ending "-is" became "-iya" in Arabic, and a sound called "æ" changed to "ī" due to a sound change known as "imāla."

At the same time, the city's official name was changed to "Ḥimṣ al-Andalus," which refers to the city of Homs in modern-day Syria. Seville was assigned to the same military region as Homs during the Umayyad conquest. The name "Ḥimṣ al-Andalus" was widely used by people in the Muslim Arab world and appeared in writings such as the encyclopedia of Yaqut al-Hamawi and the book "Ritha' al-Andalus" by Abu al-Baqa ar-Rundi.

The city is sometimes called the "Pearl of Andalusia." People who live in Seville are called "sevillanos" (or "sevillanas" for women) or "hispalenses," which comes from the Roman name of the city.

The official motto of Seville is "NO8DO." This phrase is believed to be a rebus, a type of puzzle, that represents the Spanish phrase "No me ha dejado," meaning "She [Seville] has not abandoned me." When spoken, the phrase is pronounced as "no-madeja-do." The number "8" in the middle of the motto represents the word "madeja," which means "skein [of wool]." It is said that King Alfonso X gave this title to Seville. He was living in the city's Alcázar when the citizens supported him during a time when his son, later Sancho IV of Castile, tried to take the throne from him.

The emblem of Seville appears on the city's municipal flag and can be found on city property, such as manhole covers, and on Christopher Columbus's tomb in the cathedral.

History

Seville is about 2,200 years old. Many different civilizations helped Seville grow, giving it a unique character and a large, well-preserved historical center.

According to legends, the city was founded by Hercules, also known as Heracles, who was linked to the Phoenician god Melqart. The myth says Hercules sailed through the Strait of Gibraltar to the Atlantic and built trading posts at the current locations of Cádiz and Seville. The original part of the city, near today’s Cuesta del Rosario street, dates back to the 8th century BC. At that time, Seville was on an island in the Guadalquivir River. In 1999, archaeologists found human remains under the north wall of the Real Alcázar that are 8th–7th century BC old. The Phoenicians and Tartessians, who were indigenous people in pre-Roman Iberia, called the city Hisbaal.

The Romans later called the city Hispal and later Hispalis. Hispalis became one of the major market and industrial centers in Hispania, while the nearby Roman city of Italica (now Santiponce, the birthplace of emperors Trajan and Hadrian) remained a typical Roman residential city. Large Roman ruins can be seen in Italica and nearby Carmona.

In Seville itself, Roman remains include the underground Antiquarium of the Metropol Parasol building, parts of an aqueduct, three pillars of a temple in Mármoles Street, columns in La Alameda de Hércules, and ruins near the Seville Cathedral. The city walls were first built during Julius Caesar’s rule, but their current shape and design were created during the Moorish period.

After the Romans, the region of Hispania Baetica was conquered by the Germanic Vandals, Suebi, and Visigoths between the 5th and 6th centuries.

When the Islamic conquest of the Iberian Peninsula began, Seville (Spalis) was taken by Musa ibn Nusayr in late summer 712. However, it was retaken in July 713 by Musa’s son, Abd al-Aziz ibn Musa, after Visigoths who had fled to Beja returned to the city. The city became the administrative center of Al-Andalus until 716, when the capital moved to Córdoba.

In the mid-9th century, Vikings attacked Seville. They arrived on September 25, 844, and captured the city on October 1. They stayed for 40 days before leaving. During Umayyad rule, most people in Seville were Muladi converts (Muslims of Iberian descent), with smaller Christian and Jewish communities. Until the Almohads arrived in the 12th century, Seville remained the seat of the Metropolitan Archbishop, the leading Christian religious figure in al-Andalus. However, the transfer of Saint Isidore’s relics to León in 1063 suggested growing challenges for the local Christian minority.

After 1023, a powerful taifa kingdom with Seville as its capital emerged following the fitna (civil war) in al-Andalus. Ruled by the Abbadid dynasty, the taifa expanded by absorbing smaller neighboring kingdoms. During this time, Seville became a major center for learning and literature. The city was conquered by the Almoravids in 1091 after months of siege.

Seville fell to the Almohads on January 17, 1147. After early Almohad settlements in Seville and a brief move of the Al-Andalus capital to Córdoba in 1162 (which caused hardship for Seville), the city became the main capital of the Almohad Empire in 1163, alongside Marrakesh. The Almohads rebuilt the city, and by the late 12th century, the walled area may have had 80,000 people.

In the 13th century, Ferdinand III of Castile and León laid siege to Seville in 1247. A naval blockade prevented aid from reaching the city. After 15 months of siege, Seville surrendered on November 23, 1248. The surrender terms allowed the population to leave, and many people reportedly left the city.

After the Castilian conquest in 1248, Seville continued to grow. Public buildings, including churches in Mudéjar and Gothic styles like the Seville Cathedral (built in the 15th century), were constructed. Moorish buildings were often converted into Catholic churches, as was common during the Reconquista. The Moors’ Palace became the Castilian royal residence and was later replaced by the Alcázar, which is still used by the Spanish royal family.

Seville was the starting point of the 1391 anti-Jewish massacres, which spread across Castile and Aragon. After the violence, all of Seville’s synagogues were taken over and turned into churches (renamed Santa María la Blanca, San Bartolomé, Santa Cruz, and Convento Madre de Dios). The Jewish quarter’s land and shops (now in the Santa Cruz neighborhood) were seized by the church, and many Jewish homes were destroyed. About 4,000 Jews were killed, and others were forced to convert to Christianity.

The first Spanish Inquisition tribunal was established in Seville in 1478. Its goal was to ensure that people who claimed to be Christian were not secretly practicing Judaism. The first public punishment, called an Auto de Fé, happened in Seville on February 6, 1481, when six people were burned alive. The Inquisition expanded quickly, with the Plaza de San Francisco hosting many such events. By 1492, tribunals existed in eight cities, and the Alhambra Decree forced all Jews to convert or leave Spain.

After Christopher Columbus’s exploration of the New World, Seville was chosen in 1503 as the headquarters of the Casa de Contratación, which made Seville the main port for trade with the Americas. Despite the difficulty of navigating the Guadalquivir River, Seville was selected because it was the largest economic and financial center in Christian Andalusia. Its inland location also provided security and control over taxes.

Geography

Seville has an area of 141 km² (54 square miles), according to the National Topographic Map series from the Instituto Geográfico Nacional – Centro Nacional de Información Geográfica, the country's civilian survey organization (pages 984, 985, and 1002). The city is located in the fertile valley of the River Guadalquivir. The average height above sea level is 7 meters (23 feet). Most of the city is on the east side of the river, while Triana, La Cartuja, and Los Remedios are on the west side. The Aljarafe region lies further west and is part of the metropolitan area. The city's boundaries are: on the north with La Rinconada, La Algaba, and Santiponce; on the east with Alcalá de Guadaira; on the south with Dos Hermanas and Gelves; and on the west with San Juan de Aznalfarache, Tomares, and Camas.

Seville is on the same line of latitude as San Jose, a city on the west coast of the United States in central California. São Miguel, the main island of the Azores archipelago, is also on the same latitude. Further east in the Mediterranean Basin, Seville shares the same latitude as Catania in Sicily, Italy, and is just south of Athens, the capital of Greece. Beyond that, it is on the same line of latitude as Seoul, the capital of South Korea. Seville is inland, not far from the Andalusian coast, but experiences a more continental climate than nearby port cities, Cádiz and Huelva. Its distance from the sea makes summers in Seville much hotter than along the coastline.

Seville has a hot-summer Mediterranean climate (Köppen climate classification Csa), with very hot, long, dry summers and mild winters with moderate rainfall. The city's average annual temperature is 19.6°C (67°F). On average, temperatures reach 25.7°C (78°F) during the day and drop to 13.3°C (56°F) at night. Seville is located in the Guadalquivir Valley, often called "the frying pan of Spain" because it contains the hottest cities in the country.

Seville is the warmest city in Continental Europe and the hottest major metropolitan area in Europe. It has summer average high temperatures above 36°C (97°F), making it the hottest city in Spain. After Córdoba, also in Andalusia, Seville has the hottest summer in Europe among cities with more than 100,000 people, with average daily highs above 36.0°C (97°F) in July and August. On average, Seville has about 60 days a year with maximum temperatures over 35.0°C (95.0°F).

Temperatures above 40°C (104°F) are common in summer. Seville was the first city in the world to name a heat wave, called "Zoe." The highest temperature ever recorded was 46.6°C (116°F) at Seville Airport on 23 July 1995. The lowest temperature recorded was −5.5°C (22°F) at the same airport on 12 February 1956. A disputed historical record of 50.0°C (122°F) was reported on 4 August 1881, according to the NOAA Satellite and Information Service. An unconfirmed record of 47.2°C (117°F) was noted on 1 August 2003 by the National Institute of Meteorology, based on a weather station near Seville Airport.

Seville receives about 3,250 to 3,300 hours of sunshine each year. Snowfall is extremely rare. Since 1500, only 10 snowfalls have been recorded in Seville. During the 20th century, only two snowfalls occurred, with the last one on 2 February 1954.

• Winters are mild: December and January are the coolest months, with average high temperatures around 16 to 18°C (61 to 64°F) and low temperatures of 6 to 7°C (43 to 45°F).
• Summers are very hot: July and August are the hottest months, with average high temperatures around 36°C (97°F) and low temperatures of 21°C (70°F).
• The average yearly rainfall is 502 mm (19.8 inches), with about 50 rainy days each year, often including heavy rain. December is the wettest month, with an average rainfall of 80 mm (3.1 inches).

Government

Seville is a municipality, the basic level of local government in Spain. The Ayuntamiento is the group responsible for managing the city. The Plenary of the Ayuntamiento is made up of 31 elected municipal councillors, who choose the mayor. The last municipal election happened on May 28, 2023. The current mayor is José Luis Sanz (People's Party), who has held the position since June 17, 2023.

Seville is the capital of the autonomous community of Andalusia, as stated in Article 4 of the Statute of Autonomy of Andalusia from 2007. It is also the capital of the Province of Seville. The Palace of San Telmo is now the location of the presidency of the Andalusian Autonomous Government. The administrative headquarters are in Torre Triana, in La Cartuja. The Hospital de las Cinco Llagas ("Hospital of the Five Holy Wounds") is the current location of the Parliament of Andalusia.

The municipal administration is divided into 11 districts, which are further split into 108 neighborhoods.

Demographics

In 2024, there were 72,990 people in the city who were born in other countries. This number is equal to 10.6% of the entire population.

Main sights

Seville is a major tourist destination in Spain. In 2018, more than 2.5 million travelers and tourists stayed in Seville’s accommodations, making it the third most visited city in Spain after Madrid and Barcelona. The city has a low level of seasonality, meaning tourists visit throughout the year. There are many landmarks, museums, parks, gardens, and other attractions in Seville, offering something for everyone. The Alcázar, the cathedral, and the General Archive of the Indies are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Many of Seville’s most important sights and monuments are located in the historic center, known as Casco Antiguo. To the north of the center is the Macarena neighborhood, which includes important monuments and religious buildings, such as the Museum and Catholic Church of La Macarena or the Hospital de las Cinco Llagas. Across the Guadalquivir River, on the west bank, the Triana neighborhood played an important role in the city’s history.

The Seville Cathedral, officially called the Cathedral of Saint Mary of the See, is considered the largest Gothic cathedral in the world and one of the largest cathedrals globally. It includes parts of an old mosque built by the Almohads in the 12th century. Construction of the current building began after 1401 and was completed in 1506, with additional work done between 1511 and 1519. The cathedral contains several important tombs, including one of the two claimed burial places of Christopher Columbus, as well as many artworks, including Spain’s largest retable. Later additions, mostly in Plateresque or Renaissance style, were made to the exterior of the cathedral.

One of Seville’s most famous landmarks is the cathedral’s bell tower, the Giralda, which was originally the minaret of an Almohad mosque. The minaret’s main shaft is over 50 meters tall. In the 16th century, a large Renaissance-style belfry was added to the tower, increasing its total height to about 95 or 96 meters. The tower’s top is crowned by the Giraldillo, a bronze weather vane, from which the name "Giralda" comes.

The Church of San Salvador, located at Plaza de San Salvador, is the second largest church in Seville after the cathedral. Originally built as a mosque, it was rebuilt in Baroque style in the 17th century and was the city’s only collegiate church. The Church of Saint Louis of France, built between 1699 and 1731 and designed by Leonardo de Figueroa, is another example of Baroque architecture.

To the south of the cathedral is the Alcázar, a large palace and garden complex that once served as the city’s center of power. The site has been occupied since ancient times but was outside the Roman city walls. The current palace complex was first built in the 10th century as a governor’s palace and expanded in the 11th century when it became the palace of the Abbadid rulers. Some parts of the palace date back to the 12th century under Almohad rule, but most of the site was rebuilt after the Christian conquest in the 13th century. A major construction project took place in the 1360s under Pedro I, who built a new palace in Mudéjar style with help from craftsmen from Granada. Decorated rooms and courtyards, such as the Patio de las Doncellas and the Salón de Embajadores, date from this time. Further additions were made in Renaissance style under the Catholic Monarchs and the Habsburgs. The gardens were also redesigned in Renaissance style and later expanded in the 17th century. The palace has been used as a filming location for movies, including Game of Thrones.

The Archbishop’s Palace is built over the site of the city’s former Roman baths. The property was originally donated by Ferdinand III to Bishop Don Remondo in 1251, but the current building was constructed in the second half of the 16th century, with later additions. Its Baroque doorway was completed in 1704 by Lorenzo Fernándes de Iglesias.

Many historic homes and wealthy mansions have been preserved in Seville since the 16th century. One of the most famous is the Casa de Pilatos, an aristocratic mansion that blends multiple architectural styles. The house, bought by the Enriquez de Ribera family in 1483, has a typical courtyard layout but mixes older Isabelline and Mudéjar decoration with later Renaissance elements. After returning from a pilgrimage to Jerusalem in 1520, Don Fadrique Enriquez de Ribera commissioned a stone portal at the entrance of the family mansion. The portal became the starting point for the Via Crucis to the Cruz del Campo, and later writers claimed it was modeled after the doorway of the house of Pontius Pilate in the Holy Land, giving the house its current name.

Other historic mansions include the Palace of the Countess of Lebrija, the Palacio de las Dueñas, and the Casa de los Pinelos. The Casa del Rey Moro is considered the oldest in Seville, with origins dating to the 15th century.

The city walls of Seville were first built in ancient times under Julius Caesar’s orders. After a Viking attack on the city in 844, the walls were rebuilt under Abd ar-Rahman II. The walls were expanded under the Almoravids in 1126, and the Almohads added a moat and a second outer wall in 1221. Most of the walls were demolished after 1861 to allow urban development, but parts of the northern walls remain visible today.

The Torre del Oro is an Almohad defensive tower built between 1220 and 1221. It was part of the city’s defense system and protected the harbor along with another tower across the river. A chain could be raised between the two towers to block ships and prevent entry into the port.

The City Hall (Ayuntamiento) was designed by architect Diego de Riaño, who worked on it from 1527 to 1534 and created the eastern façade on Plaza de San Francisco, a highlight of the Plateresque style. Later architects, including Hernan Ruiz II after 1560

Culture

The Teatro Lope de Vega is located on Avenida de María Luisa, next to Parque de María Luisa. It was built in 1929 by architect Vicente Traver y Tomás. The theater was part of the pavilion for the city at the Ibero-American Exhibition. This pavilion had a large room that became the Casino of the Exhibition. The theater covers an area of 4,600 square meters (50,000 square feet) and can hold 1,100 people. Its design follows the Spanish Baroque Revival style, with both its structure and decorations matching this style.

The theater has hosted many types of performances, such as theater, dance, opera, jazz, and flamenco. Today, it is known for its wide range of national and international programming, making it one of the most important theaters in Spain.

Other important theaters in Seville include Teatro de la Maestranza, Auditorio Rocío Jurado, and Teatro Central. Seville also has a corral de comedias, called Corral del Coliseo, which is now used as a residential building.

Seville offers many entertainment options, including festivals that take place throughout the year. Some festivals focus on religion and culture, while others celebrate local traditions and entertainment.

Semana Santa is celebrated in Seville and other parts of Spain and Latin America. In Seville, the event is large and recognized as a Fiesta of International Tourist Interest. Fifty-four local brotherhoods, or "cofradías," organize processions and floats during the week, showing the story of the Passion of Christ. Traditional music and art are part of the processions, making Semana Santa an important part of Sevillian culture.

Seville is home to the bi-annual flamenco festival La Bienal, which claims to be the largest flamenco event in the world and lasts nearly a month.

In the Triana district, the Velá de Santiago y Santa Ana is held every July. This event includes sports, performances, and cultural activities to honor St. James and St. Ana.

The April Fair (Feria de Abril) is a large celebration that happens in Seville about two weeks after Holy Week. It was originally linked to livestock but now focuses on creating a fun, cheerful environment tied to Spanish folklore. During the fair, families, businesses, and organizations set up casetas (marquees) where they dance, drink, and socialize. Women traditionally wear flamenco dresses, and men wear their best suits. The marquees are set up in the Los Remedios district, where each street is named after a famous bullfighter.

The International Boat Show of Seville is an annual event held in the country's only inland maritime port, which is one of the most important in Europe.

In the 1970s and 1980s, Seville had a lively rock music scene with bands like Triana, Alameda, and Smash, who combined traditional flamenco with British-style progressive rock. In the 1990s, punk rock group Reincidentes, indie band Sr Chinarro, and singer Kiko Veneno gained popularity. Today, Seville's music scene includes rap artists such as SFDK, Mala Rodríguez, Dareysteel, Tote King, Dogma Crew, Bisley DeMarra, Haze, and Jesuly. The city's diverse music scene is reflected in its club-centered nightlife.

Seville has many theaters and performance spaces where classical music is played, including Teatro Lope de Vega, Teatro La Maestranza, Teatro Central, the Real Alcázar Gardens, and the Sala Joaquín Turina.

Although the sevillana dance is often mistaken for flamenco, it is not originally from Seville. However, the folksongs called sevillanas are authentically Sevillan, as is the four-part dance performed with them.

On November 19, 2023, Seville hosted the 24th Annual Latin Grammy Awards at the FIBES Conference and Exhibition Centre, making it the first city outside the United States to host the event.

The Triana district is considered the birthplace of flamenco, which began as an expression of the poor and marginalized. The Romani people of Seville, known as Flamencos, played a key role in developing the art form. While flamenco represents Andalusian culture, it is also a national heritage symbol of Spain. Seville has more flamenco artists than any other city in the country, supporting an entire industry and attracting many tourists.

Tapas are one of Seville's main cultural attractions. People visit bars to enjoy small dishes called tapas, which are believed to have originated as snacks served on small plates to cover drinks. Local specialties include fried and grilled seafood (such as squid, cuttlefish, swordfish, marinated dogfish, and ortiguillas), grilled and stewed meat, spinach with chickpeas, Jamón ibérico, lamb kidneys in sherry sauce, snails, caldo de puchero, and gazpacho. A popular fast-food sandwich is the serranito.

Traditional desserts from Seville include pestiños, which are honey-coated fritters; torrijas, which are fried bread slices with honey; roscos fritos, which are deep-fried sugar-coated ring doughnuts; magdalenas, or fairy cakes; yemas de San Leandro, which help fund the city's convents; and tortas de aceite, which are thin, sugar-coated cakes made with olive oil. Polvorones and mantecados are traditional Christmas treats, while pestiños and torrijas are commonly eaten during Holy Week.

Bitter Seville oranges grow on trees lining the city streets. Large amounts are collected and sent to Britain to make marmalade. Locally, the fruit is used in aromatherapy, herbal medicine, and dietary products rather than as food. According to legend, the Arabs brought the bitter orange to Seville from East Asia through Iraq around the 10th century to perfume their gardens and provide shade. The flowers of the tree are used to make neroli oil, which is used in perfumes and skin lotions.

In 2021, the city's water company, Emasesa, started a pilot program to use methane from fermenting oranges to generate clean electricity. The company plans to use 35 tonnes of fruit to power one of the city's

Economy

Seville is the most populous city in southern Spain and has the largest gross domestic product (GDP) in Andalusia, contributing one-quarter of the region’s total GDP. All cities in the metropolitan area rely directly or indirectly on Seville’s economy, while agriculture is the main economic activity in smaller villages, with some industrial work located in industrial parks. The Diputación de Sevilla (Deputation of Seville), based in the Antiguo Cuartel de Caballería (Old Cavalry Barracks) on Avenida Menendez Pelayo, provides public services to distant villages that cannot offer them themselves.

Seville’s economy is closely tied to its geography and urban layout. As the capital of Andalusia, it is the center of a growing metropolitan area. Traditional neighborhoods like Santa Cruz and Triana, as well as areas farther from the city center such as Nervión, Sevilla Este, and El Porvenir, have experienced recent economic growth. Before the 2007 economic crisis, this area saw significant population increases and the development of new industrial and commercial parks.

During this time, the city’s infrastructure supported an economy focused on services, though industry remained important. In the 1990s, Seville saw major investment in infrastructure, partly because it hosted the Universal Exposition of Seville in 1992. The city’s economic growth is supported by strong transportation links, including a high-speed AVE railway to Madrid and a new international airport.

Seville has the only inland port in Spain, located 80 km (50 miles) from the mouth of the Guadalquivir River. This port connects the southern regions of Spain (Andalusia and Extremadura) to Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa via the Atlantic and Mediterranean. After reorganization, the port handled 5.3 million tonnes of goods in 2006.

Cartuja 93 is a research and development park that employs 15,000 people. The Parque Tecnológico y Aeronáutico Aerópolis (Technological and Aeronautical Park) focuses on the aircraft industry. Outside Seville, nine PS20 solar power towers use the city’s sunny climate to generate clean, renewable energy.

The Sevilla Tower skyscraper was built from March 2008 to 2015. Standing 180.5 meters (592 feet) tall with 40 floors, it is the tallest building in Andalusia. Seville has conference facilities, including the Conference and Convention Centre.

The Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas en Sevilla (CSIC) is located in the former Pavilion of Peru in Maria Luisa Park. In 2008, the city provided funding to renovate the building into the Casa de la Ciencia (Science Centre) to promote public interest in science. The company Neocodex, based in Seville, operates Spain’s first and largest DNA bank and has contributed to genetic research. Seville is also a key center for renewable energy and aeronautics research.

Research centers at Seville’s universities, working with the city government and local technology companies, have made Seville a leader in technological research and development in Spain. The Parque Científico Tecnológico Cartuja 93 is a hub for public and private investment in research.

Key areas of innovation and research include telecommunications, new technologies, biotechnology (used in local farming), the environment, and renewable energy.

Transport

Seville is served by the TUSSAM (Transportes Urbanos de Sevilla) bus network, which operates buses throughout the city. The Consorcio de Transportes de Sevilla provides bus service to all satellite towns surrounding Seville.

Two bus stations help connect the city to nearby areas and other cities. Plaza de Armas Station serves destinations to the north and west, while Prado de San Sebastián Station connects to the south and east. Plaza de Armas Station also offers direct bus routes to many Spanish cities and Lisbon, Portugal.

The Seville Metro, known as "Metro de Sevilla" in Spanish, is a light rail system that serves the city and its surrounding areas. It operates independently of other rail networks and street traffic, ensuring a dedicated path for its trains. All stations have platform screen doors, which improve passenger safety and efficiency.

The Seville Metro was the sixth metro system built in Spain, following those in Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Bilbao, and Palma de Mallorca. It was created to provide a modern, efficient, and high-capacity transportation solution for Seville and its growing suburbs.

As of 2024, the Seville Metro has one line with 21 stations. This line connects key parts of the city to nearby towns, including Mairena del Aljarafe, San Juan de Aznalfarache, and Dos Hermanas. Line 2 is currently under construction and will link the northern and southern parts of the city once completed. Lines 2 and 4 are still in the planning stage.

In 2024, the Seville Metro transported over 22 million passengers, making it the fifth-largest metro system in Spain by annual ridership. It helps reduce traffic congestion and supports sustainable transportation in Seville.

MetroCentro is a surface tramway that serves the city center. It started operating in October 2007 and has five stops: Plaza Nueva, Archivo de Indias, Puerta de Jerez, Prado de San Sebastián, and San Bernardo. This is part of Phase I of the project. The tramway is expected to be extended to Santa Justa AVE station, adding four new stops. However, this expansion has been delayed, even though the city prioritizes expanding public transit.

Seville-Santa Justa railway station is served by the AVE high-speed rail system, operated by Renfe, a Spanish state-owned rail company. A five-line commuter rail service (Cercanías) connects the city to its metropolitan area. Seville is part of the Red Ciudades AVE network, which links the city to 17 major Spanish cities via high-speed rail.

Although Seville is near the Portuguese city of Faro, there is no train service that crosses the border between the two countries.

The number of people using bicycles in Seville has increased significantly in recent years. From 2006 to 2011, bicycle use grew tenfold. By 2015, about 9% of all trips using motorized transport and 5.6% of all trips, including walking, were made by bicycle.

The Sevici program allows people to rent bicycles for low cost. Bicycles are available for hire throughout the city, and many major streets have green, raised bicycle lanes.

The city council signed a contract with JCDecaux, an outdoor advertising company. A local advertising company finances the public bicycle rental system in exchange for a 10-year license to use citywide billboards. The system is called Cyclocity by JCDecaux, but each city's program has its own name.

As of 2022, companies like Lime and Ridemovi, which provide e-bike services, began operating in Seville. This was made possible by new parking spots added by the city council.

San Pablo Airport is the main airport in Seville and the second busiest in Andalusia, after Málaga Airport. It is the largest cargo airport in the region. In 2019, the airport handled 7,544,357 passengers and nearly 9,891 tonnes of cargo. It has one terminal and one runway.

The airport is a base for the Spanish low-cost airline Vueling. Ryanair also operates flights from the airport, starting in November 2010. In 2019, Ryanair opened its first aircraft maintenance facility in Spain at Seville Airport. This allowed low-cost flights to Spanish cities and to Portugal, including weekly flights to Porto and other European cities.

Seville is the only commercial river port in Spain and the only inland city where cruise ships can reach the historical center. On August 21, 2012, the Muelle de las Delicias, managed by the Port Authority of Seville, hosted the cruise ship Azamara Journey for two days. This was the largest cruise ship to visit the city and can carry up to 700 passengers.

Seville has two ring road highways, the SE-20 and the SE-30. These roads do not form a complete controlled-access highway around the city. The SE-30 connects to the A-4, a major highway in southwestern Spain, which links Seville to Cádiz, Có

Education

Seville has three public universities. The University of Seville (US) was founded in 1505. In 2019, it had 72,000 students. The Pablo de Olavide University (UPO) was founded in 1997 and had 9,152 students in 2019. The International University of Andalusia (UNIA) was founded in 1994.

The University of Seville and the Pablo de Olavide University are important places for learning in Western Andalusia because they offer many different academic courses. Because of this, many students from the cities of Huelva and Cádiz study in Seville.

Other educational institutions in Seville include the School of Hispanic American Studies, founded in 1942, and the Menéndez Pelayo International University, which is based in Santander but has a branch in Seville. Loyola University Andalusia is also located in Seville.

Some international schools in Seville are:
– Lycée Français de Séville (a French school)
– Deutsche Schule Sevilla (a German school)
– St. George's British School

Seville is also home to many international schools and colleges that serve American students who come to study abroad.

Sport

Seville is the home city of two competing soccer teams: Real Betis Balompié and Sevilla Fútbol Club. Both teams play in La Liga. Each team has won the league once: Real Betis in 1935 and Sevilla in 1946. Only Sevilla has won European competitions, including the UEFA Cup in 2006 and 2007, and the UEFA Europa League in 2014, 2015, 2016, 2020, and 2023. Real Betis reached their first European final in 2025 in the UEFA Conference League, where they lost 4–1 to Chelsea F.C. The Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán and Benito Villamarín stadiums, which belong to Sevilla and Betis respectively, were used during the 1982 FIFA World Cup. Sevilla’s stadium also hosted the 1986 European Cup final. A multi-purpose stadium called La Cartuja, built in 1999, was the site of the 2003 UEFA Cup final. Seville has a basketball team in the ACB League called Real Betis Baloncesto.

Seville has hosted indoor World Championships in athletics in 1991 and outdoor World Championships in 1999. The city also hosted the Davis Cup tennis final in 2004 and 2011. Seville tried but failed to host the 2004 and 2008 Summer Olympics. A stadium called Estadio de La Cartuja, which could hold 60,000 people, was built for those games. The River Guadalquivir in Seville is one of only three FISA-approved international training centers for rowing and the only one in Spain. The 2002 World Rowing Championships and the 2013 European Rowing Championships were held there.

In fiction

• The 1613 picaresque novel Rinconete y Cortadillo by Miguel de Cervantes is set in the city of Seville.
• The novel La Femme et le pantin (1898) by Pierre Louÿs, which has been made into movies more than once, is mainly set in Seville.
• The legend of Don Juan, inspired by the real person Don Miguel de Mañara, takes place on the Paseo Alcalde Marqués de Contadero in Seville.
• Many operas are set in Seville, including Carmen by Bizet, The Barber of Seville by Rossini, La forza del destino by Verdi, Fidelio by Beethoven, Don Giovanni and The Marriage of Figaro by Mozart, and Betrothal in a Monastery by Prokofiev.
• The 1995 novel The Seville Communion by Arturo Pérez-Reverte is set in Seville.
• The 1985 Doctor Who television episode "The Two Doctors" takes place in Seville.
• Seville is one of the locations in Dan Brown’s Digital Fortress.
• Seville is one of the settings in Jostein Gaarder’s book The Orange Girl (Appelsinpiken).
• The 2000 film The Road to El Dorado by DreamWorks features Seville as the hometown of the two main characters, Miguel and Tulio, who are tricksters who travel to the New World and are mistaken for gods by local people.
• Arthur Koestler’s book Spanish Testament is based on the author’s time in a Seville prison during the Spanish Civil War.
• Robert Wilson’s novel The Hidden Assassins (2006) focuses on a terrorist event in Seville and the political situation there.
• The Plaza de España in the Parque de María Luisa appears in Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones, The Dictator (starring Sacha Baron Cohen), and Lawrence of Arabia, where it is used as a palace, a military base, and a hotel.
• The Plaza of the Americas appears in Lawrence of Arabia as a stand-in for Jerusalem and in El Cid by Anthony Mann. It also appears as a palace in The Wind and the Lion (1975).
• The Alcázar and other landmarks in Seville appear in the television series Game of Thrones, which uses them to represent the city of Dorne.
• In the 2016 film Assassin’s Creed, Master Assassins Aguilar de Nerha and Maria escape from pursuers in Seville and jump from an unfinished Seville Cathedral to avoid capture.
• In Mission: Impossible 2, Ethan Hunt travels to Seville to recruit Nyah Nordoff-Hall.

Twin towns – sister cities

Seville has a special partnership with Kansas City. This partnership is because there is a small copy of the Giralda tower, which is the bell tower of Seville's cathedral, in Kansas City.

Titles

Seville has received titles from Spanish kings and leaders throughout its history.

• "Very Noble," given by King Ferdinand III of Castile after he retook the city.
• "Very Loyal," given by King Alfonso X of Castile for helping him during a rebellion. See also the Motto "NO8DO."
• "Very Heroic," given by King Ferdinand VII of Spain through a Royal Document on October 13, 1817, for helping fight the French invasion.
• "Invictus" (meaning "Invincible" in Latin), given by Queen Isabella II of Spain for the city's resistance against General Van Halen's asedium and bombing in 1843.
• "Mariana," given by General Francisco Franco in 1946 for the city's devotion to the Virgin Mary.

Notable people

• Al-Mu'tamid ibn Abbad was a poet and king of Seville from 1040 to 1095
• Avenzoar was a physician
• The family of Ibn Khaldun, an Arabic historian and sociologist
• Ibn Sahl of Seville, a 13th-century poet
• Luis del Alcázar, a Jesuit theologian (1554–1613)
• Renaissance composers Cristóbal de Morales and Francisco Guerrero
• Mateo Alemán, a 16th-century novelist
• Playwrights Lope de Rueda and Hermanos Alvarez Quintero
• Bartolomé de Las Casas, a historian of New Spain
• Laureano de Torres y Ayala, colonial governor of La Florida and Cuba
• Pablo de Hita y Salazar, colonial governor of La Florida
• Baroque painters Diego Velázquez, Valdés Leal, and Bartolomé Esteban Murillo
• Antonio de Ulloa, an explorer and astronomer
• Renaissance poets Fernando de Herrera and Gutierre de Cetina
• Maria Antonietta of Spain, Queen consort of Sardinia (1729–1785)
• José Jiménez Aranda, a notable Costumbrista painter who depicted 19th-century society in Seville and its buildings
• Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer, a Romantic poet
• Bullfighters Juan Belmonte, Curro Romero, Ignacio Sánchez Mejías, Emilio Muñoz, and José Gómez Ortega
• Diego Martinez, Prime Minister of the Second Spanish Republic; José Díaz, a communist politician; Manuel Fal, a Carlist politician
• Vicente Aleixandre (Nobel Laureate)
• Antonio and Manuel Machado
• Luis Cernuda
• Joaquín Turina, a composer
• Carmen Farala, a drag queen who won the first season of Drag Race España
• William Haselden, a cartoonist
• Juan Diego