Our goal for the day was to travel back almost 100 years to experience Seville in its prideful splendor. We began at Plaza de España, an impressive masterpiece that took 15 years to build, with some 1,000 workers each day.
Built for the Ibero-America Exhibition of 1929, Plaza de España is a beautiful square that is not just one of the most famous and well-loved landmarks here, but also in the entire country. Held to showcase the twinning between Spain, Latin America, the United States, Portugal and Brazil, 117 buildings, of which 25 remain, were built.The Plaza is crowned by the Spanish Pavilion, designed by Aníbal González and made in regionalist style, with Renaissance influences. It incorporates the traditional elements of forging, ceramics and exposed brick. It was, at that time, the largest pavilion ever built.
Running along the walls of the building are 48 tiled alcoves and benches representing the 48 provinces that Spain had at the time. These benches have become a real tourist attraction, with Spaniards often taking photos at the bench representing their province of origin. I chose Granada.After lunch at El Rincón de Beirut, the only restaurant whose kitchen was opened at noon, Steve and I separated from the kids and headed to have a coffee in 1929 grandeur. This palatial establishment was built by King Alfonso XIII to be the finest hotel in Europe. The occasion which prompted such a lavish construction was, of course, the Ibero-Americano Expo of 1929.While after the Exhibition, the Plaza de España was forgotten about and abandoned for several years, the Hotel Alfonso XIII became the preferred stopping point for the Quien es Quien, including the current king's late grandmother, Doña Maria de las Mercedes de Borbón y Orleáns, as well as Seville's most glamorous and celebrated visitors.We followed in the footsteps of people like Princess Grace of Monaco, Rita Hayworth (whose father was from Seville), Orson Welles, Audrey Hepburn, Sofia Loren, Jackie Kennedy, and Princess Diana. More recent guests include Pierce Brosnan, Lenny Kravitz, Brad Pitt, Shakira and the Game of Thrones (Season 7) cast."The building is in the Neo-Mudéjar style. This style is historicist and, in this case also has an aspect of Andalusian regionalism. Initially designed in 1916, it blends in with the overall aesthetics of the buildings planned for the Ibero-American Exposition of 1929. Its façade and its overall construction display a significant wealth of decorative elements and details, built from materials that could well be considered as frugal or simple: mostly brick, plaster, wood and ceramics."The interior puts forth a display of wealth and status: arches and columns, decorated with elaborate coffered hanging lamps and fine carpets from the Royal Tapestry Factory. Ornamented ceramic tiles (azulejos) decorate walls, ceilings and all manner of structures.Our most expensive coffee since arriving in Spain, 10€ for two, was enjoyed in the gorgeous inner courtyard. What a day of learning about Seville's past in such spectacular settings. I 🤎 Sevilla.“Live your life by a compass not a clock.”
-Stephen Covey
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