Tour of the Real Alcázar, a Mudéjar-style palace with intricate decorations and lush gardens, followed by a visit to Seville's Gothic Cathedral, featuring the grand tomb of Christopher Columbus and the climbable La Giralda tower. Lunch at leisure with time for a true Spanish siesta. Optionally in the afternoon, take a private electric boat cruise watching the gardens and buildings of Seville slide past in peace and tranquillity. This evening, C&S has privatized the Lebrija Palace for our exclusive use and dinner. Without the crowds, admire the stunning Roman mosaics and wide collection of antiquities, old masters and decorative arts.
Breakfast
Morning Tour the Real Alcazar & the Cathedral
The Christian King Peter of Castile in the 14th century chose the site of a Visigoth Basilica, built in turn on the ruins of an 8th-century Abbadid Muslim fortress, for his palace and decorated it in the Mudéjar style. Not only is it huge, but the sheer delicacy of its decoration is something to marvel at, along with its elegant ornamental pools and shady gardens.
Next visit Seville’s mighty gothic cathedral, the third largest in the world: impressive enough from the outside but inside! Prepare to be blown away by Flemish high altar made with 2.5 tonnes of gold (you may know it as the backdrop for the kingdoms of Dorne and Meereen in Game of Thrones – we won’t tell) and the huge tomb of Christopher Columbus, which is somewhat disputed as he has several other burial sites. But had it not been for the prescience of Queen Isabel of Castile, Columbus would never have made his circumnavigation, so…
Straight from the cathedral, it’s time to tackle the ascent of the massive, square tower, symbol of Seville, La Giralda (it means ‘weathervane’). Despite its immense height of almost 350 feet, it has only 17 steps to the pinnacle at the top. It has ramps instead - lots and lots of ramps. But it’s worth it to see across the pinky brick and whitewashed walls of the city with its glossy orange trees and narrow streets, and to imagine its original incarnation as the minaret for the 12th century Great Mosque.
Lunch At leisure with time for a siesta
3:00 p.m. Optional 1-hour private eco river cruise
Dinner Exclusive after hours visit and private dinner at the Lebrija Palace
This evening, we have secured an exclusive after hours visit to one of Julian’s favorite house museums, the Lebrija Palace! This extraordinary mansion glitters with stunning Roman mosaics and contains the Countess of Lebrija’s valuable collection of antiquities, old masters and decorative arts. The palace is also bedecked with ornamental features like Arab-style arches, plateresque wall decorations, and a typically Andalusian facade and layout. Enjoy a private dinner in the Palace—how incredibly magical!