Seville: The Real Alcázar and Santa Cruz

Seville is at its best early and late: palace courtyards in the fresh morning light, and lively streets once the heat fades. This private day follows that rhythm, with a driver to cover the distances between the old town, the Plaza de España and Triana so that your energy goes into the places themselves.

The day starts at the Real Alcázar as it opens. Behind its walls lies one of the most beautiful palaces in Spain, still used by the royal family. Its oldest surviving parts date from the Almohad period, but its heart is the palace built in the 1360s for King Pedro I by craftsmen trained in Andalusi art. Arabic inscriptions, carved stucco and tiled walls surround the Patio de las Doncellas; beyond lie gardens of fountains, palms and orange trees.

Next door, the Santa Cruz quarter, Seville's old Jewish neighbourhood, is a maze of whitewashed lanes and small squares that is best explored slowly. It leads you to the Cathedral, one of the largest Gothic churches in the world, raised on the site of the great Almohad mosque. Its bell tower, the Giralda, began as the mosque's minaret; climbing its gentle ramps rewards you with views across the rooftops. The Patio de los Naranjos keeps the layout of the mosque's courtyard.

After lunch and a rest, the car takes you to the Plaza de España, built for the 1929 Ibero-American Exposition, and on to Triana across the Guadalquivir, the historic quarter of potters and flamenco, for the evening.

For a wider plan, see Andalusia in seven days and our Andalusia guide. This is one of our private tours, arranged on request; availability and price are confirmed by the team after reviewing your dates.