The Renaissance style, quadrangular floor is perhaps the most important characteristic of the Archivo General de Indias (General Archives of the Indies). In 1785 King Carlos III decided to transform the city's fish market into an archive for documents and testimonies from the New World, which up until then had been scattered throughout various territories. In this building, a meeting place for researchers, nearly 40,000 documents that deal with the first expeditions to the New World, from the moment of the "discovery" to the 19th Century, are carefully filed, making the archive a cornerstone for research of this historical period. A visit here is a trip through the development of trade between Seville and the New World, especially with the 'Old and New World Commerce' exhibit.
This museum is found inside the Plaza de Toros de La Maestranza; its complete name is therefore Museo Taurino de la Real Maestranza de Caballería. The museum holds a permanent exposition of paintings, sculptures, bullfighting costumes and apparel, and the fans and accessories found in social settings where the theme of bullfighting is center stage. Inside, you can purchase traditional souvenirs for a modest price, from fans to shawls, keyrings, posters, etc.--everything related to the popular Andalusian art of bullfighting. The Museum is surrounded by such representative places such as the Torre del Oro, the Giralda, and the catedral. If you decide to visit the museum, after leaving you can enjoy a long stroll on the banks of the river, complete with the characteristic bars of Seville.
The cathedral where you can find this museum stands where the 12th Century Great Mosque stood, whose minaret, now called La Giralda can still be seen. It is the biggest Gothic Temple in the world, and the third biggest Christian temple. Inside the museum, you can find a complete collection of sacred art, paintings, sculptures, silver and gold work and furniture from the era. You will also find the cathedral's Baroque sacristy and the sculptures by Montañés, Murillo and Valdés Leal a magnificent sight. For more details, cal +34 902 09 9692.
Promoted by Cristina Hoyos, the flamenco dancer, Museo Del Baile Flamenco is a flamenco dance museum that is truly unique. The museum aims to educate all those who wish to learn more about Andalusian culture and learn flamenco dancing in a systematic way. This three floored 18th century building is an architectural wonder and has different sections for a sound and image room and high tech exhibit areas, archival photos and costume displays. Conferences and cultural events with artists are organized. So learn some fabulous flamenco moves this season and bring the spirit back in your life!
Found in the Plaza de España, the Regional Military Museum is heir to a large part of the Ancient Equestrian Artillery Society of Seville (Antigua Maestranza de Artillería de Sevilla) collection, to which elements of Military Firearms and other arms from different units, centers, and organizations of the Southern Military Region have been added. The Museum contains many different rooms. The Capitanía Room, in rememberance and hommage to this military institution, exhibits a collection of antique steel weapons from the 15th Century, as well as diverse firearms from Spain and other countries. The parapet and the crank harquebus (matchlock gun from the 15th Century) deserve special mention. The Adalid Room receives its name in memory of the Adalid, a war-time leader, a position in the Spanish militia that equaled what would later be the Field Master. In this room a money-storage box from the United States and a trunk from the 16th Century with an interesting security mechanism in perfect working condition are carefully kept. The Huestes and Mesnadas Room evokes the craftsmanship that served as a base for the first military industry. Diverse crafts such as carpentry, steel working, printing, chemical, electrical, etc. The Cuartel Maestre Avenue is the principal artery of the museum. Here two cannons from the era of Felipe V, authentic jewels of bronze melting are displayed.
Museo de Bellas Artes de Sevilla, founded as the "Museum of Painting" in 1835, opened its doors to the public in 1841 with works from bankrupt convents and monasteries, in the old Convento de la Merced Calzada. You will be amazed by the paintings from the 19th and 20th century. In addition, the museum houses interesting ceramic, gold and silver-smithery and weapons. The building, connected by a large staircase, owes its current configuration to the reforms carried out since the beginning of the 17th century. Installed in an old convent in the heart of Seville, it houses a collection of permanent works that brings together the most complete collections of Murillo and Valdés Leal, as well as works by Zurbarán and El Greco. The timings of the museum tend to change regularly, so, it is advisable to call or visit their website before planning your visit here.
This wonderful old house in the center of the city is open to the the public all day. Its numerous rooms are full of antique furniture and collections of vases, plates and silverware spanning many different historical time periods. There's an important collection of paintings dating from the 16th-19th Centuries as well. The Spanish Royal Family and sundry members of the aristocracy stay here when they come to Seville and the house closes on those days.
Located in an 18th-century building, this contemporary art museum holds various collections that bring together numerous trends in painting and sculpture from the 20th Century. Among the works here, you can admire collages, introduced by Juan Gris with his famous Cubist work Vaso, Botella y Periódico (Vase, Bottle, and Newspaper), in addition to diverse tendencies, from surrealism and expressionism to realist, abstract, futurist, or Dadaist styles, by young artists who challenge your understanding and increase your appreciation for contemporary Andalusian art.