Plaza de San Francisco

You’ve now arrived at the narrow yet elegant Plaza de San Francisco, the heart of Seville in the 16th century. Major public celebrations took place here, and it was also home to the city’s most important civic institutions. Like many central squares, its name changed over time with the country’s political shifts. It was first named Plaza de San Francisco, then became Constitution Square, King’s Square, Isabel II Square, Liberty Square, back to Constitution Square again, then Plaza of the Spanish Falange under the fascist regime—before finally returning to its original name. The most important building here is El Ayuntamiento, which dominates the western side of the square and separates Plaza
de San Francisco from Plaza Nueva. In case your Spanish is a little rusty, El Ayuntamiento means City Hall. Construction began in 1527, after the royal wedding of Charles V and Isabella of Portugal, held here in Seville. The aim was to create a building that reflected the city’s prestige within the Crown of Castile, which is why it looks so grand. The project’s architect was Diego de Riaño, who designed the richly decorated façade you see today in a style called Plateresque. After Riaño’s death, Juan Sánchez continued the work. If you’ve never heard of Plateresque before, it’s a lavish architectural style that sits between Gothic and Renaissance—it’s all about intricate, excessive ornamentation. This style was especially popular with the Catholic Monarchs, who commissioned many of its finest examples—including the one in front of you. The building is a National Heritage Site, and you can visit it, but unless you were born in Seville, you’ll need to buy a ticket.