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The Maria Luisa Park in Seville, SpainThe Parque was the Garden of the 17th Century Palacio de San Telmo
This is Seville's main green area and was given to the City in 1893 by Princess Maria Luisa. Some of the buildings were a part of the 1929 Ibero-American Exposition.
Having explored Seville and admired the splendors of the Cathedral, the Reales Alcazares and maybe shopped, it is time to relax and recuperate. One of the best places to do that is in the Maria Luisa Park, which is south of the city center. Many of the buildings left after the Ibero-American exhibition now house embassies, military headquarters, museums, cultural and educational institutions. The two grandest buildings are the Hotel Alfonso XIII and the Plaza de Espana. Incidentally, the rather well-known operatic tobacco factory where Carmen worked is also nearby. It is now Seville University. About Some of the BuildingsThe tourist office is in a tan and cream striped fort called the Queen's Sewing Box. It was once the Princess's garden lodge where she spent a lot of time. Sewing, one presumes. The Peruvian Pavilion is modeled on the Archbishop's Palace in Lima. The Seville Pavilion is now the Teatro Lope de Vega [theatre] and Casino with wonderful apple green, gold and cream interior decor and a gorgeous mosaic roof. Then there are the buildings of Uruguay, Chile and Argentina which now form the Seville School of Dance. There is a wonderful museum in Plaza de America. The Museo de Artes y Costumbres Populares. For anyone who is interested in Andalucia this is a must housing as it does an exhibition of the arts and traditions of the area. There is the history of azulejos [tiles] and displays of costumes and musical instruments. The building is a glorious creamy structure called the Mudejar [Mohammedan] Pavilion. Green tiled roofs, tiled arches, towers and balconies. Very picture postcard. Across from this museum is the Archeological Museum which was the Pavilion de Belles Artes. The piece de resistance has to be the Plaza de Espana. As one would expect from the host nation, the grandest building of the lot. The square itself is like a huge chess board with a beautiful fountain in the center. The building itself is crescent-shaped, curving around as if to protect the "square". Except for the entrance to the square, all around is a stream edged with the most fantastic balustrade - blue, yellow and white azulejos. People either stroll across the square to the entrance or they can take a rowing boat round to it. The entrance is fabulous. Over an arched bridge across the stream and into a colonnade of white pillars. And, of course, more azulejos to admire. On the first/ground floor level all around the building are arches and, at either end, towers that reach into the sky with tiled domes, looking like enthusiastic minarets. These days the building is government offices. Strolling Through the GardensThere are plenty of shade trees beneath which to amble, as well as severl lakes and ponds. One of the ponds is the Fuente de los Leones (Lion Fountain) based on the Patio de los Leones at the Alhambra in Granada. Another pool is lined with ceramics and has benches, frogs and ducks - all ceramic. There are also several statues dotted about the park, mostly commemorative ones. For more information about Seville log on to their web site. Seville is one of the day trips from the port of Cadiz where cruise ships often call.
The copyright of the article The Maria Luisa Park in Seville, Spain in Spain Travel is owned by Barbara Bothwell. Permission to republish The Maria Luisa Park in Seville, Spain in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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