Introduction
Seville smells of oranges. The scent of orange blossom pervades every plaza and contributes to the generally heady feeling of life in the Andalucian capital. Seville is all about enjoyment - seen at its most intense during the Feria festival in April and during Semana Santa leading up to Easter. But this devotion to enjoyment is a year-round affair, most evident in the evenings, as stylish locals come out for strolls or to sit at cafes or stand in bars chatting over beer and tapas. There's a tangible feeling of fun about.
The days are delightful too, with so much romantic architecture to admire, so many winding medieval lanes to explore. Seville's myriad cultural influences can be seen in its stones - there are Roman, Islamic, Baroque, Gothic and Renaissance traces to be found all over the city. It's not unusual to see combinations of these styles in a single building, for instance in the Cathedral of St Mary, which, like the Alcazar facing it, is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
The cultural combination can also be seen in flamenco, part-art, part-tradition, all flounces and fun, a blend of gypsy music and Moorish rhythm and Spanish guitars, a living dancing embodiment of the myriad influences that have shaped this part of Spain over the centuries.
