The heart of Seville is along the east bank of the Guadalquivir River. This Old Town (Centro Histórico), once enclosed by walls, is fairly compact. The best and really the only way to explore it is on foot. Today nearly all the sights lie between two of the major bridges of Seville: the Puente de San Telmo, to the south, and the Puente de Isabel II (also known as the Puente de Triana), an Eiffel Tower-like structure from the mid-1800s. Near Puente de San Telmo are such sights as the Torre del Oro, the University of Seville, and the Parque de María Luisa. Near the Puente de Isabel II are the Maestranza bullring, the major shopping streets, and the Museo de Bellas Artes. In the middle of the Centro Histórico are the Seville Cathedral and its adjoining Giralda tower, the Alcázar, and the colorful streets of the old Jewish quarter, the Barrio Santa Cruz.

Main Streets, Squares & Arteries -- The old Paseo de Colón is that part of Seville's historic core that opens onto the Guadalquivir River. Any number of streets, including Santander, lead to Avenida de la Constitución, where you'll find the major attractions of Seville, including the Alcázar and the cathedral. To the east of both the Alcázar and the cathedral is the Barrio Santa Cruz. Major historic squares include Plaza Nueva, Plaza de El Salvador, Plaza de Jerez, and Plaza de Triunfo. From Plaza del Duque, the Museo de Bellas Artes is reached by heading west toward the river along Calle Alfonso XII. The best place to start your exploration of Seville is Plaza Virgen de los Reyes. From here many of the major attractions, including the Giralda, the Patio de los Naranjos, and the Archivo de Indias, are all close at hand. Directly south of the plaza is the Alcázar -- the whole area, in fact, is historic Seville in a nutshell.

Finding an Address -- Most of Seville's streets run one-way, usually toward the Guadalquivir River. Individual buildings are numbered with odd addresses on one side of the street and even numbers on the opposite side, so no. 14 would likely fall opposite nos. 13 and 15. Many addresses are marked s/n, which means the building has no number (sin número). When this occurs, be sure to obtain the name of a cross street as a reference point.

Maps -- Even if you're in Seville for only a day or two, you'll need a detailed street map, not the general overview often handed out free at tourist offices. The best street maps of Seville are those published by Euro City, available at local newsstands and in bookstores. These maps contain not only a detailed street index, but also plot tourist information, places of interest, and even locations of vital services (such as the police station). You can more or less count on getting lost in the intricate maze of the Barrio Santa Cruz, for which no adequate map exists. A sketch map provided by the tourist office will help get you around the area, however.

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.