Seville’s Plaza de España: A Window into the Rich History of Spain

Magnificent Plaza de España is one of Spain’s most iconic squares, built for the 1929 Ibero-American Exposition. On this walking tour, you’ll soak up the lively history that’s captured in the plaza’s elaborate ceramic panels, and hear the story behind the square’s creation.

The tour starts near the statue of architect Aníbal González. He designed the plaza in the distinctive Regionalist style, which showcases local decorative ceramics and evokes Seville’s historic architecture. You’ll then make your way all around the vast semicircular site, allowing you to admire its craftsmanship from a variety of perspectives.

As you examine the decorative tiled panels – one for each Spanish province – you'll learn about pivotal moments that shaped the nation. The panels cover everything from the struggles between Christian and Muslim kingdoms in the Middle Ages, through to the Spanish War of Independence, and to modern Spain.

On this 60-minute tour, you’ll have the chance to:

• Understand the significance of each of the plaza’s elements, from its overall semicircular design, to the symbolism of the two towers and four bridges across the canal
• Discover how the Catholic Monarchs, Ferdinand and Isabella, united Spain’s kingdoms through strategic marriage and conquest
• Learn about Spain’s Golden Age explorers like Columbus, Cortés, and Magellan, who transformed Spain into a global empire
• View tributes to Spanish cultural icons including Cervantes and Velázquez
• Appreciate Neo-Mudéjar and Neo-Baroque elements such as the distinctive honeycomb ceilings and decorative ceramic work
• Find out which blockbuster movies have used Plaza de España as their backdrop
• Gain insight into Spain’s complex regional identities and how they shaped the modern nation

By the end of this enlightening journey through Spain’s rich history, you’ll have seen one of Seville’s most photogenic landmarks brought to life right before your eyes.