Exploring Sevilla’s Festive Spirit While Studying Abroad
The month leading up to Christmas is a very special time in Sevilla. As the orange trees begin to bloom, the city prepares decorations and festivities for the season. Starting in December, streets in the suburbs and the city center are adorned with beautiful lights that turn on at dusk. Beds of vibrant red poinsettias are planted, and huge light displays, such as Christmas trees, angels in front of the San Telmo Palace, and ornaments big enough to stand in, are set up all over the city.
A Christmas market in Fundación Valentín de Madariaga y Oya.
View of Sevilla from the Ferris wheel.
Libby with cotton candy!
Across the Puente Los Remedios Bridge, my roommates and I watched as an entire carnival, complete with a massive Ferris wheel, was built. When we went to the carnival, we rode a Tom and Jerry roller coaster that turned out to be a lot scarier than it looked, played carnival games (sadly, none of us won any prizes), and rode the Ferris wheel to take in the breathtaking view of Sevilla at night (you can even see the Catedral de Sevilla and the Giralda from it).
Street lights in Los Remedios.
Poinsettia beds and a Christmas tree in El Centro.
Besides walking around at night to admire the spectacular lights, my roommates and I also enjoyed visiting the Christmas markets. One of my favorites was the market in the city center, which mainly sold nativity scenes and where I picked up a figurine for one of my Secret Santa gifts. Although we were leaving a few days before Christmas, my roommates and I still wanted to celebrate together. We decorated our own little tree, set up Santa-themed Christmas lights as a centerpiece for our table, and exchanged small Secret Santa gifts as a goodbye before we left. I was so happy that Sevilla put me in a festive spirit just before I went home to see my family and celebrate with them.
Our Secret Santa gifts.
Games at the holiday carnival.
Angel decorations in front of San Telmo palace.
Me and my roommates in an ornament light display.
The Tom and Jerry roller coaster.
This post was written by Marra Finkelstein, a CEA CAPA Content Creator from the University of Miami and studied abroad in Seville, Spain.