Plaza de España

The Plaza de España in Seville is one of the most dramatic public squares in Europe — a semicircular architectural complex built for the 1929 Ibero-American Exposition in the Parque de María Luisa, approximately 1 kilometre south of the cathedral. Designed by Aníbal González in a mixture of Regionalist, Renaissance Revival, and Baroque styles, its 500-metre facade encloses a moat canal crossed by four decorative bridges. Two ornate towers anchor the ends of the semicircle, and the central pavilion rises above a broad paved esplanade. The most distinctive feature is a row of 50 alcoves built into the base of the main building, each representing one of Spain's provinces with hand-painted ceramic azulejo tile benches, a mosaic map of that province, and painted scenes of its local history and geography. The alcoves run in alphabetical order and visitors frequently walk the full perimeter locating specific provinces. The central canal can be navigated by rowing boat, hired from the central quay in 30-minute slots at a modest fee — passing under the four ornate bridges and giving an unusual perspective on the facade from the water. The building exterior has been used as a filming location in multiple productions, most prominently as the facade of the Theed Royal Palace in Star Wars Episode II and as a set location in Lawrence of Arabia. The towers at each end are open to visitors and provide elevated views over the full semicircle. Crowds are heaviest between 10 AM and 5 PM in spring and autumn, concentrated around the tiled alcoves and the central pavilion. Late afternoon from 6 PM and early morning before 9 AM offer substantially better photography conditions with longer shadows and softer light.