Attraction
Real Alcázar de Sevilla
A royal palace complex with more than a thousand years of history, famous for Pedro I's Mudéjar palace, tiled courtyards and extensive walled gardens.
Plaza de España
A vast semicircular square built by Aníbal González for the 1929 Ibero-American Exposition, lined with tiled alcoves representing the provinces of Spain.
At a glance
- Type
- Historic square and pavilion
- Area
- Parque de María Luisa, Seville, Spain
Good to know
- Free entry
- Rowing boats
- Step-free access around the square
Why we recommend it
The Plaza de España is the grandest of the buildings left by the 1929 Ibero-American Exposition, and it is one of the places that most visitors to Seville put at the top of their list. Designed by the Sevillian architect Aníbal González and built on the edge of the Parque de María Luisa, it was intended to show off Spanish industry, crafts and design to the world. Today the buildings are mainly used as government offices, but the square itself is open to everyone and free to visit.
The layout is a huge half-circle of brick buildings with towers at each end, wrapping around a central fountain. A moat runs along the curve, crossed by four bridges that represent the old kingdoms of Spain, and in summer you can hire a rowing boat on it. Along the base of the building is a sequence of alcoves decorated with painted ceramic tiles, one for each Spanish province, showing a map and a scene from its history. Spanish visitors often hunt down the bench for their home province and take a photograph there. The tilework on the bridges and balustrades is equally detailed.
The square has a long film history too. It appeared in Lawrence of Arabia and later stood in for the city of Theed on the planet Naboo in Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones, so it attracts film fans as well as architecture lovers. Flamenco dancers and musicians often perform under the arcades, and there is usually something going on in the late afternoon.
There is very little shade in the open square, so in summer come early in the morning or towards sunset, when the light on the brick and tiles is at its best. Allow an hour to walk the full curve, climb to the upper gallery and cross the bridges, and longer if you plan to row. The main areas are flat and easy for prams and wheelchairs, although the bridges have steps.
The plaza is a 15 to 20 minute walk from the Cathedral through the Jardines de Murillo or along the Avenida de la Constitución, and the Prado de San Sebastián metro, tram and bus hub is close by. Combine it with a stroll through the Parque de María Luisa next door and a visit to the Plaza de América at the far end of the park.
Plaza de España FAQs
Is it free to visit the Plaza de España?
Yes. The square is a public space and there is no charge to walk around it.
Who designed the Plaza de España?
It was designed by the architect Aníbal González for the 1929 Ibero-American Exposition.
What do the tiled alcoves represent?
Each alcove represents a Spanish province, with a tiled map and a historical scene.
Can you go on a boat at the Plaza de España?
Rowing boats can be hired on the moat that runs along the front of the building, mainly in the warmer months.
Which films were made here?
It appears in Lawrence of Arabia and in Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones, among others.
When is the best time to visit?
Early morning or late afternoon, when it is cooler and the light is softer. The square has little shade at midday in summer.
How do you get there?
Walk from the Cathedral in about 15 to 20 minutes, or use the Prado de San Sebastián metro, tram and bus stops nearby.
What is next to the Plaza de España?
The Parque de María Luisa, with the Plaza de América and the city's archaeological museum at its southern end.