In all honesty, I came to Seville on somewhat of a whim. Funnily enough, many students here have similar stories. These conversations, though, always end with a resounding agreement that we’re all so incredibly lucky our whims led us here. It’s difficult to articulate the great love I have for Seville, but here are some reasons why I feel this way.
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| Lanterns and people dressed to impress at Feria |
Beauty
Seville is one of the most beautiful places you’ll ever visit. On my first day here, I turned to my roommate and said, “Can you believe we get to live here for four months?” It felt unreal how amazing everything looked - from the parks to the fountains to the colored buildings and fascinating architecture. I couldn’t understand how it was a real city.
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| The entrance to la Feria de Abril |
Festivals
The two big events in the spring, Semana Santa and Feria de Abril, are iterations of the intense love the Sevillanas have for their city and traditions. Semana Santa, a celebration leading up to Easter Sunday, features century old floats and confraternities. The intensity of the event cannot be captured in images or videos. Regardless of religious affiliation, Semana Santa offers incredible sights and an unmatched atmosphere. On the other end of the spectrum, Feria de Abril, is a week long fair dating back to a tradition of trading. Now it’s much less about trading and much more about celebration. More than a thousand tents are set up alongside a carnival. Women dress in elaborate flamenco dresses and men in suits and jackets. Again, the beauty of this festival is hard to capture, but between flamenco dancing, lanterns strewn in the streets, and the Spanish hospitality of inviting guests into casetas and treating them to food, drink, and dancing, this an event you won't want to miss.
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| Me, in a flamenco dress at Feria |
Good, Old-Fashioned Fun
If you’re not convinced by the talk about festivals, there’s more! The night life of Seville is something else. Since tradition in Seville is to eat around 9 PM, locals have enough energy to stay out until early in the morning and dance away the night. If dancing in one of the city’s numerous clubs does not sound appealing, there are many other equally enticing events to choose from. Places like La Carbonería offer incredibly fun casual flamenco shows in an authentic setting. Besides the exciting events that Seville offers, daily life is fun. Each meal is a social event. I’ve felt that there is a specific emphasis on spending quality time with loved ones and enjoying every day.
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| View from one of the ferris wheels at Feria |
Home
Seville has a familiar feel to it that welcomes you immediately. For a foreign city in a foreign country with a language I don't speak very well, it’s incredible how comfortable I feel here. From sitting by the river with friends, to meeting locals, to wandering the beautiful streets, things just feel right.
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| Some casetas (tents) at Feria |
I absolutely love Seville, and I would recommend with every fiber of my being that you visit. There is no greater decision I’ve made than studying abroad in Seville. I’m so lucky to be here, and to have found a second home in this fascinating and extraordinary Andalusian city.
Kelly M. is the Spring 2018 MOJO Blogger in Seville, Spain. She is currently a Sophomore studying Communication & Marketing at Clemson University.