First built in A.D. 913, this fortress was expanded and rebuilt countless times by successive Muslim rulers. In the 14th century, Catholic kings took it over and further embellished it. The Alcázar is a succession of courtyards, tiled arbors, enclosed gardens, and halls with lacy stucco friezes adorned with Arabic inscriptions. The Spanish royal family still uses it as their pad on visits to Seville (making it the oldest royal residence in Europe still in use).

Closed Mondays.

Supposedly a reproduction of Pilate's house in Jerusalem, this 16th-century palace was the home of the dukes of Medinaceli. Its network of courtyards, salons, and fountains combines Gothic, Moorish, and Plateresque styles. You'll see Greek and Roman statues as well as works by Goya, Carreño, Batalloli, and Pacheco and collections of antique vases, plates, and silverware. The ground floor, patios, and gardens are self-guided, but the upper level can only be seen on a guided tour.

Open daily 9–6:30.

Its 15th-century builders said, "Let us create such a building that future generations will take us for lunatics." Today, Seville's cathedral is Europe's third-largest church, a Gothic pile topped by spires, towers, and a delicate network of buttresses. Inside, you'll find Columbus's tomb; works by Goya, Murillo, and Zurbarán; and a display of skulls. La Giralda is the single remaining minaret of the 12th-century mosque on which the cathedral was built. Climb the 300-foot tower's ramp for a superb city view.

Open Mon–Sat 11–2:30 and 3–4, Sun 2:30–6; Jul–Aug 9:30–3:30.

The lungs of the city, this park has monuments, pavilions, and pools shaded by palm, pine, and elm trees. Start off at Plaza de España, a grandiose semicircular brick Art Deco–Mudejar building with ceramic-tiled benches depicting each region of Spain. It was designed by Sevillano architect Anibal Gonzalez for the 1929 Ibero-American Expo. Walk through the park to Plaza de America, where the Mudejar Pavilion now houses the Museum of Popular Arts and Customs, full of quirky, fascinating artifacts covering all aspects of Andalucian life, from olive oil presses and guitar workshops to handcrafted shepherds' wine containers and the famous Triana azulejo tiles. Opposite, in the former Renaissance Pavilion, is the Archaeological Museum, with magnificent Roman mosaics and the Carambolo treasure, a hoard of sixth-century Tartessian gold jewellery discovered near Seville.

Park open daily from 8 am to 12 am in summer, 8 am to 10 pm in winter.

Both museums are open Tuesdays 2:30 to 8:30 pm, Wednesdays through Saturdays 9 am to 8:30 pm, and Sunday 9 am to 2:30 pm.

Restored for the 1992 Expo, this 14th-century monastery on Isla de la Cartuja has a long and fascinating history: Carthusian monks bred pure-blood Andalusian horses here, Columbus planned his voyages, Napoleon's troops set up camp, and porcelain was created in the factory founded by Englishman Charles Pickman—hence the tall, cone-shaped chimneys visible from across the river. It's now home to the Andalucian Center of Contemporary Art (CAAC), with its permanent collection of works by regional artists and rotating themed exhibits. Its best cultural offerings are the art biennales, BIACS (www.fundacionbiacs.com). An installation from the first biennale remains in the garden: a small Mudejar pavilion hung with black bead curtains, which sway gently in the breeze. In summer there are music festivals and concerts in the gardens. The café, with tables overlooking magnificent bougainvillea, serves drinks and tapas.

Open Tuesdays through Fridays from 10 am to 8 pm, Saturdays 11 am to 8 pm, Sundays 10 am to 3 pm.

This museum houses one of the world's best collections of Spanish art, particularly from the medieval and Renaissance eras. Highlights include stunning works by El Greco, as well as tender Murillo Virgins and macabre biblical scenes by 17th-century artist Juan de Valdés Leal. The collection is housed in a charming 17th-century convent.

Open Tues 2:30–8:30, Wed–Sat 9–8:30, Sun 9–2:30; closed Mon.

Bizet's Carmen met her fate in the red-and-yellow Real Maestranza bullring, where a statue of her now stands. This elegant ring, flanked by stables and a chapel, is one of the oldest and most beautiful in Spain—building began in 1730. You can also visit a museum containing paintings, cloaks, and tributes to bullfighting celebrities. (If you hanker to see an actual bullfight, note that few are held in summer.)

Open daily 9:30–2 and 3–7 (9:30–3 on bullfight days).