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El Arenal is one of Seville’s historic neighbourhoods, situated on the banks of the Guadalquivir, between the Cathedral and the river. Its name derives from the sandy beaches that used to line the riverbank before the river was channelled, when this stretch served as the the city’s major river port. It was from here that the ships connecting Seville with the Americas set sail and arrived during the 16th and 17th centuries, turning the Arenal into a hub of trade.
Today, the neighbourhood retains that frontier-like feel between the city and the water, with sights that can be explored on foot in a morning. If you’d like to see it as part of a city tour without having to worry about transport, you can book a organised trip to Seville and devote part of the tour to this area.
If you wish, you can enjoy an incredible walk with a guided tour of Seville.
The Torre del Oro It is the symbol of the Arenal and one of Seville’s most recognisable landmarks. It is a a dodecagonal Albarrana tower Built in the 13th century by the Almohads as part of the defensive system that protected the port and controlled river access to the city. Its name is associated with the golden sheen that its original cladding cast upon the water.
Inside is the Seville Naval Museum, which traces the city’s historical relationship with the Guadalquivir and shipping. Even without going inside, the tower is the best starting point for the walk, as it stands right on the riverbank.
It is worth noting that the Arenal occupies what used to be the the walled enclosure of Seville, which was once dotted with defensive towers stretching from the river to the Alcázar. Only three of those towers remain today: the Torre del Oro itself, the Torre de la Plata and the Abd el Aziz Tower. One of the gates in the city walls has also been preserved, the Postigo del Aceite, which takes its name from the fact that oil and other fats used to be brought into the city via this street.
Just a few metres from the Torre del Oro is the Real Maestranza de Caballería, one of the oldest and most important bullrings in Spain. Construction began in 1761 and lasted for more than 120 years, which explains why its white and ochre façade combines various Baroque elements and why the bullring has a slightly irregular shape.
The bullfighting season kicks off every year on Easter Sunday and its big event takes place a few weeks later, with the celebrations for the April Fair. The festival runs until September, when it concludes with the San Miguel Fair.
The bullring can be visited on guided tours that include the arena, the stands, the Toreros Chapel and the Bullfighting Museum, where posters, costumes and artefacts relating to the history of the venue are preserved. Next to it is the Maestranza Theatre, dedicated to opera and music, which adds to the neighbourhood’s cultural character.
Between the Royal Mint and the Royal Shipyards lies the Charity Hospital, an institution founded in the 17th century by the Brotherhood of Santa Caridad and promoted by Miguel de Mañara. It is a gem of Sevillian Baroque architecture that receives far fewer visitors than it deserves.
Sun St George’s Church it houses an exceptional collection of artworks: six paintings by Murillo, the two great allegories of Juan de Valdés Leal -In the blink of an eye y The End of the Glory of the World— and the high altarpiece featuring sculptures by Pedro Roldán. This is not a collection put together at random: the entire programme is conceived as a discourse on charity and the transience of life.
The ensemble also preserves two twin courtyards with Dutch tiles dating from the 17th century. It is open to the public (admission fee applies).
You get a better feel for El Arenal by walking along the river. The Paseo Colón, the avenue that runs alongside the Guadalquivir, connects the Torre del Oro with the quays from which the sightseeing cruises set sail, and links up with the historic bridges. It is a flat and pleasant stretch, especially at sunset, when the light falls on the water and the building façades.
The section between the Torre del Oro and the Triana Bridge It is the most picturesque, and from this bank you get the best views of the neighbourhood of Triana, on the other side. Crossing the bridge is the natural way to extend the route and combine two of Seville’s most iconic neighbourhoods in a single walk.
Many visitors choose to see the city from the water, on one of the cruises on the Guadalquivir which depart from these quays, offering a panoramic view of the historic centre that is difficult to see from land.
It’s the neighbourhood’s best-kept secret. The Cabildo Square It is a semi-circular, three-storey square with a colonnade, designed by the architect Joaquín Barquín y Barón, whose galleries are decorated with mural paintings featuring floral motifs. Its enclosed layout makes it a peaceful space, set apart from the hustle and bustle of the main streets, and it goes unnoticed by those who are unfamiliar with it.
It can be accessed via three passages: one from Avenida de la Constitución, another from Calle Almirantazgo and the third from Calle Arfe. At weekends, it hosts a collectors’ market of coins, stamps and antiques. Thanks to its layout and cosy atmosphere, it ranks amongst the most beautiful squares in Seville.
El Arenal and the surrounding area are home to several churches with a vibrant tradition of religious brotherhoods: the Baratillo Churchthe Church of La Magdalena, the chapel of the Brotherhood of the Santísimo Cristo de las Aguas, or the Church of St Francis of Paula. All of them have floats that take part in the Holy Week processions, and during those days the neighbourhood takes on a completely different atmosphere.
Another major attraction is its streets lined with taverns. The Adriano Street It is home to a large number of traditional bars, and scattered throughout the neighbourhood are chip shops where you can try the fried fish and positions in nice and warm, which is what churros are called here. If you’d like to plan your food stop, we’ve got a guide with the the best tapas in Seville.
El Arenal is right in the heart of the historic centre, between the cathedral and the river, so you can walk there from anywhere in the old town and there’s no need for transport. Its location also makes it the natural link between the historic centre and the other bank:
To plan your whole day, you can consult our guide to The 10 must-see sights in Seville.
If you’re coming from Málaga or the Costa del Sol, here are the day trips available to explore the city, including transport, a tour guide and, depending on the option chosen, admission to the main attractions:
The Arenal neighbourhood features five main sights that can be explored on foot: the Torre del Oro, the Maestranza Bullring, the Hospital de la Caridad, the banks of the Guadalquivir along the Paseo Colón, and the Plaza del Cabildo. They are all very close to one another, situated between the Cathedral and the river, so they can all be visited in a single morning’s stroll.
El Arenal is situated on the banks of the Guadalquivir, between the Cathedral and the river, right in the heart of Seville’s historic centre. Thanks to its proximity to the Cathedral and the Real Alcázar, it is easily reached on foot from the city centre, without the need for transport, as all the historic monuments are concentrated within a small area.
The name derives from the sandy beaches that lined the banks of the Guadalquivir before the river was channelled. At that time, this stretch served as Seville’s main river port, from which ships setting sail for and arriving from the Americas in the 16th and 17th centuries would depart and arrive.
Yes. The Real Maestranza de Caballería can be visited on guided tours that include the bullring, the stands, the Bullfighters’ Chapel and the Bullfighting Museum, where posters, costumes and artefacts relating to the venue’s history are preserved. Construction began in 1761 and took over 120 years to complete.
Its Church of St George houses six paintings by Murillo, the two great allegorical works by Juan de Valdés Leal —*In ictu oculi* and *Finis gloriae mundi*— and the high altarpiece featuring sculptures by Pedro Roldán. The entire artistic programme is conceived as a discourse on charity and the transience of life.
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