Santa Cruz District

You’re now in the heart of Santa Cruz, arguably the most beautiful part of Seville. It’s certainly the most picturesque, full of cobbled streets and white-and-yellow houses. This was once Seville’s Jewish quarter, and today, it’s home to some of the city’s most iconic landmarks, including the Alcázar Palace and the Cathedral with its famous Giralda tower. In the Middle Ages, Seville had the largest Jewish community in Spain. When Ferdinand III of Castile took the city from the Almohads in 1248, he designated this area for the Jewish population, who were allowed to live here relatively freely. But by the 14th century, rising tensions and economic hardship brought that tolerance to an end. The Jewish community was expelled and many were killed. Their three synagogues were converted into churches, and one of them became the Church of Santa Cruz, which gave the neighbourhood its name. After the expulsion, the area became mainly Christian, but it never lost its history. Take your time to soak up the atmosphere of this Andalusian quarter, with its tapas bars, artisan shops, whitewashed walls and flower-filled patios lining the winding streets.