Barrio de Santa Cruz
The maze-like former Jewish quarter east of the Royal Alcázar, with whitewashed lanes, wrought-iron balconies, orange-tree courtyards and tapas bars. It is Seville's most characterful neighbourhood.
Barrio de Santa Cruz was the Jewish quarter of medieval Seville. After the Jews were expelled in 1391, the neighbourhood gradually developed into what it is today: narrow winding lanes, walls painted white and ochre, wrought-iron balconies hung with flower pots, courtyards with fountains, and small squares. A recommended walking route starts at the Lion Gate of the Alcázar and passes through the Patio de Banderas (a good angle for photographing the Giralda), then along the Callejón del Agua, a water lane that hugs the palace walls, then to Plaza de Santa Cruz, where the painter Murillo is buried. It continues to the Calle de los Besos (Street of Kisses) area, where balconies on either side nearly touch, then to Plaza de Doña Elvira, and finally to the Hospital de los Venerables, which holds works by Velázquez and other masters and costs about 10 euros to enter. The neighbourhood has many tapas bars, where you can try Iberian ham, fried small fish and orange wine. Several small theatres offer flamenco shows for about 20 to 30 euros, and booking in advance is recommended. Notes: it is easy to get lost in the lanes, so use a map app. Popular restaurants often do not open for dinner until after 20:30.
Opening hours
All day (neighborhood)
Nearby sights
- Hospital de los Venerables
- Real Alcázar of Seville
- General Archive of the Indies
- Seville Cathedral & La Giralda
- Royal Tobacco Factory
- Flamenco Dance Museum
- Church of the Divine Saviour
- Casa de Pilatos