LOCATION

Southwest Spain’s Sevilla is the largest city in Andalusia and the country’s fourth biggest. It’s on the eastern banks of the Guadalquiver River and about 55 miles north of the Atlantic Ocean. It takes less than three hours on the train to travel to Madrid, and Sevilla has an international airport that will take you beyond Spain to London, Paris, and other popular European cities.

STUDYING ABROAD IN SEVILLA

When you study abroad in Sevilla, you’ll attend one of our three host institutions and live in a shared apartment or a Spanish homestay. 

Universidad de Sevilla has an impressive history dating back to the 15th century and students can access writings from the Spanish Conquistadores, the journal of Christopher Columbus, and original maps and city plans of Spanish colonial settlements in America. 

Universidad Pablo de Olavide, by contrast, was founded in 1997 and is one of Spain’s newest universities. They offer subjects from Social Anthropology to Molecular Biology to Economics and boast some top-notch sports facilities. You can get involved in extracurricular activities like joining the university soccer league, taking flamenco classes, or volunteering.

Centro Universitario EUSA is a private university and an excellent choice for Media and Communications majors. It’s one of the most modern educational settings in Europe. 

You can study abroad in Sevilla no matter what your level of Spanish is currently, take classes in English while you learn Spanish simultaneously, and intern while you’re there if you wish to do so.

WHAT’S SEVILLA LIKE?

Lonely Planet calls Seville “Andalusia’s most seductive city”, noting its impressive historic center with its famous Gothic cathedral (which ASA students visit together), its elegant plazas, palaces, baroque churches, citrus trees, and the tiny charming cobbled medieval lanes that wind through the city. Flamenco clubs maintain the centuries-old tradition of dance. Moorish architectural accents give the city a certain character.

As in most of Spain, the heart of the culture revolves around food and drink and the joy of celebration that is apparent in many festivals and fiestas throughout the year.

If you like it hot, summertime Sevilla is for you. The temps here are some of the hottest in Europe, but the winters can be cold too. Expect shops to close for the afternoon siesta to escape the heat (join in!) and Spain’s typical later meal times.

HOW CAN I SPEND MY FREE TIME?

This enchanting city (which is also noted as the cleanest in Spain!) is small enough that you can walk from one side to the other in about 45 minutes, it’s cycle-friendly, and there’s a metro, trams, and buses, making it easy to explore. It’s packed with history and opportunities to sit with friends and chat over tapas, enjoy the rich culture of Spain in the museums, galleries and Flamenco clubs, and admire the architecture. Here are a few ideas: 

WALKING TOURS. Try GPSMyCity.com to choose a route for a self-guided walking tour based on what you’re hoping to find, be it the “Orange Trees & Peacocks” walk, the “Downtown Shopping” tour, or the “Sevilla in 6 Hours” adventure. GuruWalk.com has a list of free guided group tours. There are also paid tours if you’re looking for something more in-depth. 

FLAMENCO. Speaking of walking tours, you can even go on a “Flamenco Walking Tour” to see some key landmarks in the history of the dance. Sevilla is considered the home of Flamenco and there are plenty of places to watch a show. Some of the best are Museo Del Baile Flamenco (which is also a museum where you can learn about the history of the dance or sign up for a one-day Flamenco workshop). Another great venue to watch flamenco is El Patio Sevillano. If you want to wear your dancing shoes and participate, El Mantoncillo is the place for you! 

ARCHITECTURE. There’s a true mix of architectural styles that characterize the landscape of Sevilla, from the ancient Roman ruins to the Neo-Mudéjar space. Landmarks to visit include the Catedral de Sevilla, Reales Alcázares de Sevilla, Plaza de España, “Las Setas”, Costurero de la Reina, and Centro Cerámica Triana to name but a few.

HISTORY. Through the rise and fall of Islamic dynasties to the present day, Sevilla’s long and complicated history is a lot to take in. Several of the architectural highlights mentioned above are also buildings of historical significance. Others include The Ruins of Italica, the Giralda bell tower, Torre del Oro, and Parque de María Luisa.

GALLERIES AND MUSEUMS. Culture vultures flock to the museums around the city, like the Museo de Bellas Artes, Museo Arqueológico, and Museo de Artes y Costumbres. While the city doesn’t have a huge iconic art gallery like Madrid, there are several smaller galleries dotted around the city worth visiting, starting with the Museo de Arte Andaluz Contemporeano (don’t miss the gardens).

FIESTAS. Festivals and celebrations are big in Spain and Sevilla is no exception. Most are marked by five things: Food, drink, costumes, music, and dance. Feria de Abril is one of the biggest and best, celebrating local culture. Semana Santa, a religious festival, is the week before easter. Every other September is the Bienal Flamenco. Los Reyes Magos (Three Kings Day) is celebrated every January 6 with parades, and Corpus Cristi, a Catholic holiday, takes place in May or June.

DAY TRIPS. One of the most popular day trips from Sevilla is Cádiz, for the history or for the February carnival as well as the beaches of Costa de la Luz. See the Alhambra and Granada just a 3-hour train ride away. Visit the picturesque white villages of Ronda. Spend a day in the charming city of Córdoba and see La Mezquita, a stunning 8th-century mosque. Or, if you love hiking and being in nature, the Sierras of Sevilla are for you.

WHAT (AND WHERE) SHOULD I EAT?

It’s all about the tapas here in Sevilla. There are more than 3,000 tapas bars to choose from and you can sign up for a tapas tour for a quick introduction. The food you’ll eat is a mix of classic and traditional and experimental and inventive. Most importantly, it won’t disappoint.

CAFES. Coffee lovers should head to the tiny take-out coffeeshop, Virgin Coffee where they roast their own beans on-site. Café Piola has plenty of seating, reliable wi-fi, yummy tostadas and delicious coffee. For cake, try the cozy El Viajero Sedentario. If you’re missing home, head to Milk Away for some American-style pick-me-ups.

FOOD. Casa Moreno, Bodeguita Romero, and Las Golondrinas are all great place to start exploring the tapas scene. El Rinconcillo is the oldest tapas bar in the city from 1670 and a must visit. Try the bacalao (fried cod) at Bodega Mateo Ruiz. Eat at Freiduría Puerta de la Carne for the city’s famous fried seafood. Head to Antigua Abacería de San Lorenzo for some cheap and cheerful montaditos. Bodega Dos de Mayo has a lively atmosphere and tasty food. Try La Cacharreria if you’re in the mood for brunch. 

MUST TRY. Gazpacho and salmorejo (cold tomato-based soup), jamón ibérico, secreto ibérico, shellfish, pescaito frito (fried fish), pringa (pulled pork sandwich), montaditos (tiny baguette sandwiches), tortitas de aceite, espinacas con garbanzos (spinach and chickpeas) croquetas, churros, and dulces del convent.

ANY OTHER TIPS?

A few other things to keep in mind to make the most of a study abroad experience in Sevilla…

1.    HOMESTAYS. If you really want to get to grips with local culture and language, definitely consider choosing a homestay where you’ll be truly immersed and have all sorts of opportunities to practice speaking and listening.

2.    WATER. Tap water is drinkable here. Ask for “agua de grifo” (tap water) in a restaurant to avoid having to pay for water. 

3.    PACKING. Though Sevilla is well-known for its heat, unless you’re studying abroad in the summer only, you will want to bring warmer winter clothes and a coat—even a scarf and gloves—if you’ll be there in the winter.

4.    SHOPPING. Rather than having everything under the same roof, shopping tends to be spread out, with the exception of one department store, Corte Inglés, which has just about anything you need. Usually you’ll head to a una papelieía for school notebooks or pens, una farmacia for medicines, una tienda de productos eléctricos for batteries or electronics, or una panadería for freshly baked bread, for example.