10 Best Things to Do In Barrio Santa Cruz In Seville

Famous for being one of Seville's most iconic and touristy neighbourhoods, a stroll through the narrow streets and beautiful squares of the Barrio Santa Cruz is one of the best things to see and do in the city, as it will allow you to soak up Seville's history, tradition, colour and architectural beauty.

Like other travellers visiting Seville for the first time, you're probably wondering what to prioritise and what to pay most attention to. This article aims to answer those questions. Take this list of activities as inspiration and, depending on your itinerary, include as many as possible to enjoy Seville to the fullest!

Enjoying a flamenco show is one of those activities that is worth doing in Seville before anywhere else in the world, due to this beautiful city's strong historical link with flamenco culture.

Fortunately, there are plenty of options for enjoying a show by top-class artists in the city, and even more so in the beautiful Santa Cruz neighbourhood.

In Spain, the venues where traditional flamenco performances take place are known as tablaos, which is also the name used to describe the stage or platform on which the artists perform.

Where to see a flamenco show in the Santa Cruz neighbourhood

• Flamenco Los Gallos: This tablao was founded in 1966, performances start at 7pm and tickets cost around £35.
• Casa de la Guitarra: A cultural centre with excellent references and very popular with travellers, adult tickets are available from £18.

If you are going to be in the city for several days, say three days in Seville or more, you can spend some time exploring the Hospital de los Venerables, where you will find one of the most impressive Baroque buildings in Seville.

Built in 1675 as a shelter for the homeless, the elderly and retired priests, the decorative richness of its interiors is well worth a leisurely visit.

Explore the two floors that make up the Hospital de los Venerables complex and admire its interiors, stopping for a moment to enjoy the beautiful central courtyard around which the complex is organised and distributed.

• Address: The hospital is located in the square of the same name, Plaza Venerables.
• Opening hours: Varies depending on the season; open all year round from 10 a.m., but during winter in Seville, it is only open until 6 p.m.
• Cost: Around €10 for adult admission.

What would a visit to Spain be without trying delicious Spanish tapas? What would a visit to Seville be without sampling its fantastic cuisine?

The best way to combine both elements in a unique and memorable tour is by going on a tapas tour, and the Santa Cruz neighbourhood is the perfect place for this activity.

The best tapas bars in Santa Cruz

When it comes to tapas bars and typical restaurants, the Santa Cruz neighbourhood is full of options to choose from. Although I've included a short list of my favourites below, I encourage you to do your own research.

• Cervecería Giralda One of the oldest venues in the city, it opened in 1923 in what was once an old hammam or Arab bath.
• Bar Catedral A house built in 1923 serves as a fantastic piano bar specialising in tapas, where you can enjoy live jazz music.
• Casa Tomate A venue that evokes the flamenco culture and bullfighting tradition of southern Spain, the menu features a selection of local products.
• Taberna Belmonte Belmonte was an important Spanish bullfighter, and this tavern pays tribute to the historical figure. The décor includes numerous bull heads hanging on the walls.

The Real Alcázar in Seville is considered one of the finest examples of Moorish architecture in Spain and a must-see on any tour of the city.

I recommend booking a guided tour of the Alcázar in Seville whenever possible so you can learn about and appreciate its delicate interiors, the wonderful decorative work on the many arches that make up the structure and, of course, the peaceful inner courtyards.

Visiting the Alcázar of Seville is like travelling through time and the history of the city, as the architectural complex is one of the oldest palaces still in use in the world.

It was declared a World Heritage Site, along with other important architectural gems in Seville.

• Address: It is located in the Plaza Patio de Banderas.
• Opening hours: From October to March from 9:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and from April to September with extended hours until 8:00 p.m.
• Cost: Around €15 for adult admission.

I recommend that all my fellow travellers interested in architecture and history take a moment to visit a religious building listed among the most beautiful churches in Seville, mainly due to the remarkable cultural mix it represents.

Known among locals as the Church of Las Nieves, after its construction the temple served as a mosque, but in 1391 it was converted into a Christian church. For this reason, the vestiges and influence of both cultures are evident in both the art and architecture of the place.

Perhaps the most striking feature of Santa María la Blanca is the contrast between its main architectural elements, with a façade that stands out for its simplicity and plainness, but with richly decorated interiors in white and gold in the purest Baroque style.

• Address: It is located at No. 5 Calle Sta. María la Blanca.
• Opening hours: Monday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. In the afternoons from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
• Cost: Approximately €3.

Located in the heart of Seville is one of its most important monuments and also a building of incalculable historical importance. Declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, the structure was built in 1875 to keep documents relating to the administration of the Spanish colonies, mainly in the New World, in a safe place.

When you visit the Archivo de Indias in Seville, you will find not only a beautiful building, but also an impressive collection of archives, maps, documents and all kinds of historical resources organised into some 43,000 folders. Impressive!

• Address: It is located on Avenida Constitución.
• Opening hours: Closed on Mondays; Tuesday to Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m., Sundays and public holidays from 10:00 a.m. to 1:45 p.m.
• Cost: Free admission for all visitors.

If you want to enjoy nature in the heart of Seville, I recommend a quick visit to the Murillo Gardens in Seville. They are named after the famous Sevillian painter Bartolomé Esteban Murillo, one of the most important historical figures of the Spanish Baroque style.

The beautiful garden is located just behind the Alcázar of Seville in a rectangular, elongated area covering approximately 8,500 m2.

The garden was designed by architect Juan Talavera Heredia, with numerous paths and many beautiful gazebos.

As you will see during your exploration of Santa Cruz, walking along the paths of the gardens is a truly enjoyable experience, especially if you visit during spring in Seville.

As one of the city's architectural and historical landmarks, walking along the Callejón del Agua in Seville is one of the most romantic walks you can take in the city.

The stone wall, colourful façades and balconies with lush flower boxes give the route a very nostalgic atmosphere, especially if you decide to visit the historic centre of Seville at night.

The street runs alongside the old city wall for about 140 metres and at the end of the route you will find the Murillo Gardens. The alley and the surrounding area are also the subject of numerous legends and myths, which is why many ghost and mystery tours of Seville include this walk in their itinerary.

Visit the Santa Cruz parish church and Murillo's tomb

The parish church that gives its name to the neighbourhood is also, as you would expect, one of the oldest religious buildings in Seville. Built in 1391, its small façade was updated in a conservative Baroque style between 1665 and 1728, leaving us with the church we can enjoy today.

Due to its modest size, a tour of the Santa Cruz church is a short visit that you can easily fit into a short trip to the city, such as a two-day stay in Seville.

During your visit, you can see the tomb of the famous painter Bartolomé Murillo.

• Address: Located on Calle Mateos Gago.
• Opening hours: From 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
• Cost: Free admission

When talking about the Santa Cruz neighbourhood, you will find specific elements that define the identity and character of this place.

These elements can be grouped into three: its narrow, welcoming streets, its houses with colourful façades and its beautiful squares where children, the elderly and Sevillians in general go about their daily lives.

I invite you to soak up the atmosphere by taking a tour of the most beautiful squares Santa Cruz has to offer. Below is a list of my favourites and what is worth admiring in each one.

• Plaza del Alfaro: if you are familiar with the Italian opera The Barber of Seville, you will know that this square is home to the famous balcony where Figaro recited his lines while waiting for his beloved's response.
• The Plaza de Doña Elvirais acharmingsquare full of small tiles made from Triana ceramics. It is worth sitting down to enjoy its fountain with flowers and the shade of its orange trees.
• The Plaza de los Refinadores is home to the statue of the famous womaniser Don Juan Tenorio.