The Alcazar, Seville’s Mudejar delight: a perfect example of the synthesis between Spanish kings and Moorish craftsmen. What defines a city? What is that essence which gives it an identity all of its own – the strange, arcane customs? The architectural…
Expo 92, Take II: shiny surface v ugly underbelly
Exactly a month ago, Seville celebrated the 20th anniversary of the opening of Expo 92, the global event which brought the world to Seville, and Seville to the world, during six amazing months (20 April – 12 October 1992), changing…
Expo 92, 20 years on
Today is the 20th anniversary of the opening day of the Exposicion Universal 1992. I wasn’t here for this momentous six-month event in Sevilla, a global cultural fiesta which welcomed representations from 111 countries, but I sure as hell wish…
Sail the high seas, high-tech style
On 2 January, Seville got another new museum. The Pabellon de la Navegacion was originally built for Expo 92; outside were moored the replicas of Columbus’ three boats, the Pinta, Niña and Santa Maria (now in a special dock at…
Festival de las Naciones in Sevilla
The Festival de las Naciones is a food and culture festival that originated as a stay-on after the Expo in 1992, which brought together people from countries all over the world - each with their national pavilions on Isla Cartuja, some of which still…