Seville

Flamenco, orange trees and the most ornate cathedral in the world.

Seville, the capital of Andalusia in southern Spain, is the most Spanish of Spanish cities — a place where flamenco is not a tourist performance but a lived tradition, where tapas culture was arguably born, and where the passion and drama often associated with Spain reach their most concentrated expression. It sits on the Guadalquivir River and bakes under an intense southern sun, which only adds to its intoxicating character. The Cathedral of Seville is the largest Gothic cathedral in the world and contains Columbus's tomb; climbing the Giralda tower beside it gives superb views over the city's orange-tree-lined streets. The Real Alcázar, an extraordinary Mudéjar palace complex still used by the Spanish royal family, is among the finest examples of Moorish architecture in Europe. The María Luisa Park and its Plaza de España, built for the 1929 Ibero-American Exposition, is one of the most spectacular urban parks in Spain. Seville's Triana district — the traditional home of flamenco and gitano culture — lies across the river and rewards an evening's exploration. The tapas culture here is serious: a glass of fino sherry and small plates of jamón, pescadito frito and cazón en adobo are the local rhythm. The April Feria (spring fair) and Holy Week (Semana Santa) processions are among Spain's greatest spectacles. Autumn and spring are the best seasons; July and August are extremely hot.