Enjoy some time out in the spacious palm tree-lined Plaza Nueva. The pedestrianized square in the center of Seville is surrounded by historic buildings, shops and bars and is a popular place where locals come to walk, socialize and shop.
Spend a few quiet moments on a bench under the shade of a tree. Visit the buildings that frame the square. Look for the mythical and historic figures that adorn the façade of the 16th-century “ayuntamiento,” or town hall. The façade includes sculptures of Hercules and Julius Caesar. Examine the red brick and carved stone of the four-story Telefónica building, topped by a lookout tower.
Photograph the monument dedicated to Fernando III of Castile that stands in the center of the square. The monarch was a leading figure of the Spanish Reconquest, which ended almost 800 years of Moorish rule. On the pedestal is a statue of Garci Perez de Vargas, a 13th-century hero of the reconquest.
Visit stores that are housed in some of the old buildings. For more shopping, go to the pedestrianized Calle de las Sierpes, leading off the square’s northeastern side. It’s one of Seville’s main shopping streets. Come here for leather goods, ceramics, jewelry and locally made flamenco dresses and accessories.
Plaza Nueva is also a nice spot to visit in the evening. Many Sevillanos take their evening stroll here and the shops and cafés are full of people. Be sure to visit the Plaza Nueva if you are in Seville during December. The square hosts an antique book fair and an artisan market, and the trees and town hall building are decorated with thousands of lights.
Plaza Nueva is in the center of Seville, close to the cathedral, and is well served by public transportation. Several bus routes and the tram start from here. Street parking places are very difficult to find near Plaza Nueva, but you can find metered parking close by the square in Calle Albareda, located one block north.
