Sevillè, Spain
A Heady Mix of Culture and Religion in Andalusia with Martina Mondadori and David Prior
Seville is a city of bold and brilliant layers. Once the door to the Spanish empire’s transatlantic trade, the capital of Andalucia has seen many reigns — Phoenicians, Romans, Visigoths, Moors, and Christians, to name a few — impressing Seville with scents of orange blossoms, the sounds of flamenco, and an vibrant architectural style known as Mudejar.
MARCH 22 - 25, 2024 | 3 NIGHTS
TRIP DESCRIPTION
“Sevilla tiene un color especial,” goes the popular song — “Seville has a special color.” The city embodies a sensory experience that has become the image of Spain sold all over the world: the fiery bullfighter, the romantic guitarist, the tapas crawlers. All are a part of what make up this storybook city running along the Guadalquivir River, where life is lived slowly and in the winding cobblestoned streets.
Throughout our trip, we will be discovering the vast countryside of Andalucia, dotted with tiny white-washed towns and olive groves. We will be visiting some of the greatest private Palacios the region has to offer, from Palacio Portocarrero to Palacio de Los Marqueses de Salinas and their incredible Mediterranean gardens as well as discovering local crafts and traditions. Part of our 3-night stay will take place during the preamble for Semana Santa, or Holy Week, and through Palm Sunday. Seville’s particularly elaborate celebration attracts visitors from all over the world. Devout church brotherhoods called hermandades carry wooden figures of the Virgin Mary and depictions of Christ’s crucifixion through the streets. Weighing upward of two tons, these opulent displays are carried on the backs of burly gentlemen and accompanied by hundreds or even thousands of decorated followers with candles, bowel-shaking horns and drums, potent incense, and ornate pageantry. We will be able to observe these processions from the balcony of a private home that has been opened specifically for us having seen the preparatory process in the preceding days.
Throughout our stay in Seville, we will be exploring the city and beyond by accessing private residences, palacios and castillos to discover the many facets of Andalucia’s architecture through the ages. Staying a stone’s throw from Seville’s center will allow us to explore the colorful city’s hidden streets and corners, getting a taste of its authentic nature and flavors.
We will dine in a myriad of spaces and contrasting environments to truly grasp the essence of Andalusian cuisine, from greasy garlic-scented tapas eaten along the street to refined recipes in the region’s noble palacios, to the rhythm of flamenco dancers.
Craftsmanship is closely knitted into Seville’s - and especially Semana Santa’s - fabric and history. Throughout our trip we will be visiting the workshops and going behind the scenes of veil makers and costaleros - the members of Seville’s brotherhoods who carry the procession installations through the city’s streets during the Palm Sunday procession.
Trip Highlights
Semana Santa
Seville’s particularly elaborate celebration of Holy Week attracts visitors from all over the world. Devout church brotherhoods called hermandades process wooden figures of the Virgin Mary and depictions of Christ’s crucifixion through the streets, accompanied by thousands of decorated followers with candles, horns and drums and potent incense.
The Birthplace of Tapas
Some say the tradition started when a slice of ham or bread was used to cover a wine glass (tapa), to stop dust or flies getting in; others say that since people often drink standing up, they had to put their plates on top of their glasses. Whatever the truth, tapas are a way of life in Seville. Typical local tapas in Seville include spinach and chickpeas, baby squid and Iberian ham.
Mudejar Style
Seville is the crossroads of many different cultures but the Moorish influence on Spanish culture is undeniable. Ruling the Iberian Peninsula for more than eight centuries, up until the 1450s, Al-Andalus was the first and only Islamic state on the European continent, and its heritage is still very much evident in the local architecture. The Mudéjar style, a blend of Moorish and Christian-Gothic design, can be found throughout the city.
Dressing the Part
During Holy Week, everyone wears their Sunday best, with the women wearing black dresses and lace head coverings that seem to reach for the heavens themselves. These head coverings, or veils, are known as mantilla and are viewed as a symbol of reverence to God’s will. They have been worn in Spain since the 16th century and are often custom made for the occasion by a seamstress.
Cabana Properties
Visit the region’s most beautiful residences, from the Palacio de Los Marqueses de Salinas in Seville to Palacio Portocarrero in the Andalucian countryside, which act as testaments to the region’s rich history and influence by diverse cultures and architectural styles. Private access to the properties along with guided visits with the owners allow guests to truly grasp the essence of each place and step beyond the classic sites of the region.
ACCOMMODATION
3 nights at Corral del Rey - A 17th-century Palacio turned boutique hotel in Seville’s city center, in the old quarter of Barrio Alfalfa.
INCLUSIONS
- Accommodations at Corral del Rey
- All tours and admission costs throughout the itinerary
- All meals throughout the itinerary
- All transportation throughout the itinerary
- Gratuities
EXCLUSIONS
- Airfare
- Arrival and departure transfers
- Any visa or travel requirements for entry into Mexico
- Travel Insurance
- Other meals and alcoholic beverages not stated in itinerary
Contact us for more information
Terms & Conditions
Please note, for this trip to proceed, a certain minimum number of people must reserve a place. We will provide confirmation once this number has been reached, so you may proceed with booking airfare and other forms of transportation.
If you choose to book airfare in advance of final confirmation, please book refundable fares or obtain travel insurance to protect yourself against additional charges should final dates change or cancelation occurs. (Please note, in the instance of an unforeseen date change or cancelation, your 50% deposit is refundable.)
PRIOR strongly recommends that each member purchase travel and cancelation insurance. In addition, we recommend purchasing a policy that covers loss of luggage, accidents, sickness, and emergency medical evacuation.
Please note, all efforts are made to provide the itinerary as presented, PRIOR reserves the right to make any changes to the final itinerary deemed necessary or due to reasons beyond our control (change in flights, cancelations, political disturbances, natural disasters/phenomena, etc).
Photographs or video recordings of members may be used for educational and promotional purposes by PRIOR or a host group/organization.
