Plaza Nueva

You’ve arrived at Plaza Nueva, on the other side of the Ayuntamiento. As the name suggests, this is the city’s “new” public square—though only “new” if you were around in 1856!  This wide, open square was once home to the Casa Grande de San Francisco—an enormous 13th-century convent that dominated Seville’s religious life. Its demolition made room for the plaza we see today. The convent fell into decline during the French invasion, when it was taken over and used as military barracks. Later came the wave of desamortizaciones—a government campaign that confiscated Church property and sold it off as public assets. The convent was torn down to create a new public square. Construction took several years, and the square was finally inaugurated in the mid-19th century. At its centre stands a statue of King Ferdinand III of Castile, a key figure in Seville’s history. In 1230, he unified the kingdoms of Castile and León, and led major military campaigns to reclaim southern Spain from Moorish rule.  He was canonised in 1671, which is why locals refer to him as San Fernando, or Saint Ferdinand. Today, Plaza Nueva is surrounded by elegant buildings, gardens, and fountains, and regularly hosts public events and cultural celebrations.