Take a look at a map of the centre of Seville and you´ll see a maze of narrow, winding streets. It looks somewhat chaotic, but there is a reason for this: to block the sun from the streets and sidewalks, because what you´ve heard is true–Seville has a long, hot summer and keeping the streets as cool as possible is a must.
This typically Moorish planning is present in many Spanish cities, particularly in Andalusia, where the temperatures often reach 40ºC or more! In Seville, this architectural sunscreen is exemplified in the Barrio de Santa Cruz, home to many of the city’s historic monuments, including the Cathedral and the Real Alcázares. As you enter this quarter, you can literally feel the temperature drop a few degrees.
During the summer months, visitors to the city centre can also find relief from the heat under roof top awnings strung across wide pedestrian streets. And of course the use of fans is still popular, many of which are so finely crafted and exquisitely hand painted that they have become an accessory as well as a means to keep cool. Nevertheless, Seville is a city for walking, and while most locals avoid the outdoors during the hottest hours of the day (hence, the siesta), those who venture outdoors will avoid the sun at all costs. As in a car race, where drivers move along a thin line despite the width of the track, pedestrians move from one side of the street to the other, seeking the shade rather than the short-cut.
Hotel, Apartments and Suites Murillo are located in the heart of Barrio de Santa Cruz. Stay with us and keep it cool during your stay.
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