Visit the prestigious Museo de Bellas Artes (Museum of Fine Arts), housing and outstanding collecting of Old Masters. It’s our last day in Seville, so this afternoon is dedicated to exploring the city on your own with lots of C&S suggestions. Our Soirée draws to a close with a glamorous farewell dinner in “our” 19th century mansion. Enjoy the laughter of friends, new and old, sharing so many amazing memories from our sojourn together.
Breakfast
Morning - Museo de Bellas Artes (Museum of Fine Arts)
Take a guided tour of this outstanding collecting of Old Masters has been housed in the Convento de la Merced Calzada since 1839. The convent’s spare walls and simple decor make an ideal setting for sacred works by artists such as Cranach and Murillo, and vivid civic portraits by Velázquez. The collection covers the mediaeval period to the 19th century, with a particular focus on the 17th Century, the Golden Age of Sevillian art.
Lunch At leisure
Afternoon Ideas for your free afternoon:
Casa de Pilatos - The Casa de Pilatos is one of the best examples of the 16th century Sevillian architecture. Built between the 15th and the 16th centuries, you will fine over 150 different types of azulejo (Spanish glazed tile) designs. Located in the historical center, the palace is one of the biggest private residences of Seville, currently serving as the permanent residence of the Dukes of Medinaceli. Its Gothic Mudejar style, wonderfully combined with Renaissance innovations, is one of the highlights of the palace.
Palacio de las Dueña - Las Dueñas Palace, House of Alba's current residence in Seville, was built between the 15th and 16th centuries and is one of the greatest historical attractions of the city. The building itself, including styles from Gothic-Mudejar to the Renaissance, has significant architectural interest as its several gardens and patios with a special charm. With a diverse collection of painting and sculpture, the house also treasures many family memories. The current configuration of its pieces has remained true to its actual distribution before the opening, making the Palace a unique and different place to visit.
Parque de María Luisa and Plaza de España - Spend a little time in the enormous Parque de María Luisa, named after the duchess who generously donated a large chunk of her riverside palace gardens to the citizens of Seville. The star attraction is the huge Plaza de España, the size of five soccer pitches, built for the 1929 Ibero-American Exhibition (as were many of the pavilions dotted around the park) in a Renaissance-Neo Moorish style. Get up close to the immense semi-circular brick building and its four canal bridges to see the ornate ceramic balustrades and columns made in the suburb of Triana, outside the city walls. Beside the canal are 48 niches, one for each province of Spain, with a ceramic picture.
Dinner - Glamourous farewell dinner
Raise a glass of Cava at our glamourous farewell dinner in the remarkable private setting of “our” Mercer Hotel, housed in the former Casa Palacio Castelar, an elegant late 19th century mansion. Enjoy the laughter of friends, new and old, sharing so many amazing memories from our sojourn together.
¡Adios amigos hasta la proxima vez! Goodbye friends, until the next Soirée! (Or see you on the coach tomorrow going to Lisbon!)