Seville

Lore & Background

Seville was founded as the Roman city of Hispalis. Known as Ishbiliyah after the Islamic conquest in 711, it became the centre of the independent Taifa of Seville following the collapse of the Caliphate of Córdoba in the early 11th century; later it was ruled by Almoravids and Almohads until being incorporated into the Crown of Castile in 1248. Owing to its role as the gateway of the Spanish Empire's trans-atlantic trade, managed from the Casa de Contratación, Seville became one of the largest cities in Western Europe in the 16th century. Following a deterioration in drought conditions in the Guadalquivir, the American trade gradually moved away from the city, in favour initially of downstream-dependent berths and eventually of the Bay of Cádiz – to which were eventually transferred control of both the fleets of the Indies (1680) and the Casa de Contratación (1717).

Reader's Guide

Seville is an inland city on the lower reaches of the Guadalquivir River. Its port, located about 80 km from the Atlantic Ocean, is the only river harbour in Spain. The city is not a coastal province; it is a river harbour that historically served as a gateway for trans-atlantic trade.

Did You Know?

• Seville has a municipal population of about 686,741 as of 2024, and a metropolitan population of about 1.5 million.
• Its old town contains a UNESCO World Heritage Site comprising three buildings: the Alcázar palace complex, the Cathedral and the General Archive of the Indies.
• The motto NO8DO is popularly believed to be a rebus meaning 'She has not abandoned me', given by King Alfonso X.