1. Seville Cathedral & La Giralda

Legend has it that when the sevillanos decided to build their cathedral in the 15th century, they proclaimed their intention to erect an edifice so huge that later generations would call them mad. They achieved their aim with the largest church (by volume, not floorplan) in Christendom (for further details see Seville Cathedral & La Giralda).

2. Real Alcazar

This exotic palace was primarily the brainchild of Pedro I, who had it built as a lavish love-nest for himself and his mistress, María de Padilla (for further details see Real Alcázar, Seville).

3. Casa de Pilatos

Erroneously said to be based on the house of Pontius Pilate in Jerusalem, this 15th-century gem is the most sumptuous of Seville’s urban mansions. It is a delightful blend of Mudéjar, Gothic and Renaissance styles, punctuated with Classical statuary. Look for the carved head of the Greek boy, Antinous, who drowned and was deified by his grief-stricken lover, Emperor Hadrian, in the 2nd century (for further details see La Casa de Pilatos, Seville).Plaza de Pilatos 1 • 954 22 52 98 • Open 9am–6pm daily (to 7pm Apr–Oct) • Adm (free Tue for EU members)

4. Museo de Bellas Artes

This museum is second only to the Prado in Madrid for its range of great Spanish paintings. Housed in a former 17th-century convent, the collection focuses on the Seville School, led by Cano, Zurbarán, Murillo and Valdés Leal, including Murillo’s touching Virgen de la Servilleta. Don’t miss El Greco’s poignant portrait of his son and the polychrome terracotta of St Jerome by Florentine sculptor Pietro Torregiano, a colleague of Michelangelo (for further details see Museo de Bellas Artes, Seville).Plaza del Museo 9 • 955 54 29 42 • Open Jun–Sep 15: 9am–3:30pm Tue–Sat, 10am–5pm Sun; Sep 16–May: 10am–8:30pm Tue–Sat, 10am–5pm Sun • Adm (free for EU members)

5. Fabrica Real de Tabacos

Now a part of Seville University, this handsome 18th-century edifice is the second-largest building in Spain, after El Escorial in Madrid. Famous for its fun-loving female workers, who at one time rolled three-quarters of Europe’s cigars, the old factory has been immortalized by Carmen, the world’s most popular opera. The doomed heroine, a hot-blooded gypsy cigarrera, remains, for many, the incarnation of Spanish passion.C/San Fernando 4 • Open 8am–8:30pm Mon–Fri • Free

6. Ayuntamiento

This building has been the town hall since the 16th century. Inside, the rooms are decorated with historic paraphernalia of the city and the monarchy, in a blend of Gothic and Renaissance styles. Outside, the façades reflect the evolution of taste, from the original Renaissance Plateresque work with its finely carved stonework, to the 19th-century attempt to copy the style, seen from Plaza de San Francisco (for further details see Ayuntamiento, Seville).Plaza Nueva 1 • 954 59 01 45 • Open for pre-booked guided tours only, mid-Sep–Jun: 5:30 & 6pm Tue–Thu, noon Sat • Free

7. Plaza de Espana

This semicircular plaza was designed as the centrepiece for the Ibero-American Exposition of 1929. Almost completely covered with gorgeous glazed tiles, its surfaces depict historic moments and heraldic symbols of the 40 regions of Spain. A boating canal follows the arc of the structure, crossed by colourful footbridges. The site was used as a set in the film Star Wars: Attack of the Clones, for its other-worldly feel.

8. Museo Arqueologico

This Renaissance-style pavilion was also one of the fabulous structures created for the 1929 Exposition and now houses Andalucía’s principal archaeological museum. The assemblage of artifacts ranges from Paleolithic finds, exhibited in the basement, to splendours of Roman and Moorish art. Outstanding are the Carambolo treasures of Tartessian gold, and the Roman sculpture collection is Spain’s most prestigious.Parque María Luisa • 955 12 06 32 • Jun–mid-Sep: 9am–3:30pm Tue–Sat, 10am–5pm Sun; mid-Sep–May: 10am–8:30pm Tue–Sat, 10am–5pm Sun • Adm

9. Torre del Oro & Torre de Plata

Tradition states that the imposing 13th-century Moorish dodeca­hedral (12-sided) watchtower, the Torre del Oro (Tower of Gold), is named after the golden tiles that once adorned it. Others say its name derives from its use as a warehouse for the gold coming in from the New World during Seville’s heyday. It now houses a small maritime museum. Nearby stands the Torre de Plata (Tower of Silver), a more modest octagonal tower, which most likely gets its name as a complement to its neighbour. Both towers originally formed part of the city’s defences.

Torre del Oro • Paseo de Colón • 954 22 24 19 • Open Sep–Jul: 10am–2pm Tue–Fri, 11am–2pm Sat–Sun; Adm (except Tue)

Torre de Plata • C/Santander • Closed to the public

10. Cartuja de Santa Maria de las Cuevas

This 15th-century monastery has had its ups and downs over the centuries. During Spain’s Golden Age it was the favoured retreat of Christopher Columbus, whose remains were interred here for several decades. The monks went on to decorate their vast enclave with commissions from some of Seville’s greatest artists – most of the works are now in the Museo de Bellas Artes. In 1841 it became a ceramics factory. Finally restored as part of Expo ‘92, the complex is today home to a contemporary art museum.

Isla de Cartuja

Centro Andaluz de Arte Contemporaneo • 955 03 70 70 • www.caac.es • Open 11am–9pm Tue–Sat, 11am–3pm Sun • Adm (free 7–9pm Tue–Fri and all day Sat)