SEVILLA

SPAIN

Welcome to the Sevilla Webpage. Use the navigation key's below to explore my favorite landmarks that this beautifully historic city has to offer!

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Sevilla

Origins.

Originally founded in the 8th century B.C, Sevilla has a long and interesting history. Controlled successively by the Phoenicians, the Carthaginians, the Romans, the Visigoths and the Moors, it was not until 1248 that Sevilla was incorporated into the Kingdom of Spain. By 1503, the King had granted the city a monopoly on trade between Europe and America and during the 16th and 17th centuries, it overtook Venice and Genoa as one of the world's leading cities. By the 16th century, it's population of 120,000 was rivaled only by Paris, London and Naples. After the 17th century, the city fell into decline with the rest of the receding Spanish Empire.

Napolean.

In 1807, Napoleon's invasion of Spain forced the Spanish to move their capital to Sevilla for a period of two years before it too fell - forcing the Parliament to retreat to the only city that Napoleon was unable to defeat - Cadiz.

The Civil War.

During the Spanish Civil War, the city fell into rebel hands in July of 1936 but was later the staging point for General Franco's troops being air-ferried across the straits from Morocco.

Today.

During the 1970's, economic growth and democracy transformed Sevilla into a modern city and it was made the capital of the Spanish "state" of Andalusia in 1982. Today, Sevilla is home to over 700,000 people and the added population of its immediate suburbs pushes that figure up to 1 million inhabitants. Although the oldest part of the city occupies only 9 percent of it's total area, it is still the largest in Europe. Sevilla stands on the Rio (river) Guadalquivir, 50 miles from the Atlantic Ocean. It has a Mediterranean climate with moderate temperatures - except in the summer. During the summer months, the residents of Sevilla head to the coasts of Spain by the droves to escape the stifling 100+ degree heat that bakes the city during the day. If you plan on visiting - go in the spring when the orange trees are in full blossom and the weather is sunny and the city is beautiful.

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