About
Plaza de España is a large semicircular square in Seville, in the Andalusia region of southern Spain. It sits at the Avenida de Isabel la Católica, and it is one of the city's most recognisable places to see.
The plaza was built for the 1929 Ibero-American Exposition. Its architecture is in the Renaissance Revival style, with a sweeping curved colonnade and a central building that gives the square its grand, open feel. Ceramic tiles line the walls and benches, with a panel for each of the Spanish provinces, so the visit doubles as a look at the country's regional identities.
What to see
- The canal that runs through the square, crossed by decorative bridges.
- The provincial tile panels, which are worth a slow walk along the edges of the plaza.
- The curved arcades and the central building, best viewed from the open ground in front of them.
The visit
Plaza de España is an easy place to spend time without a fixed plan. Many visitors come for the photographs, since it is among Spain's most photographed landmarks, but it also rewards a quieter pace. Walking the canal and reading the tiles gives a sense of the square's scale and detail.
Its setting in Seville makes it a natural stop among the city's other sights. The square lies in a park area that invites a relaxed stroll before or after time in the older parts of the city.
Also known as Spain Square, it is a good choice for anyone interested in architecture from the early twentieth century, or simply for an open, attractive place to walk in the heart of Andalusia.
