Parque de María Luisa & Plaza de España

After a rather long and fun filled day yesterday, I got up a bit later and had a more restful morning hanging out with a book.

After lunch, I took a stroll through the Parque Murillo (named in honour of the Spanish painter Bartholomew Murillo) and then to Sevilla’s largest park, the Parque de María Luisa.

The latter was donated in 1893 to the city by Infanta María Luisa Fernanda de Borbón. The Ibérico-American Exposition of 1929 was hosted in the park and several (permanent) pavilions including the Plaza de España were built in the park in preparation for the Exposition, which celebrated the connections between Spain, Portugal, the Spanish speaking countries of Latin America and Brazil, and North America.

The Plaza de España was the largest structure, with 48 tiled panels featuring each of the Spanish provinces, office for various government agencies and a large barracks accommodation, all set in a semicircular building and public square.

You might recognise the Plaza de España from Attack of the Clones (it featured as the Naboo palace), Lawrence of Arabia (British Army headquarters in Cairo) or the Dictator (Sacha Baron Cohen’s dictator’s mansion).

Today it was full of people watching the world go by, groups chatting or playing together, and some flamenco dancing.

I watched the flamenco group for quite a while. There was lots of foot stamping and clapping, and dramatic dancing. After some time, the group encouraged some of those watching to join in. Those who did clearly knew what they were doing, and danced for several songs along the group.

By the time the flamenco finished, the light was fading.Read more