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36 maltatoday SUNDAY 25 FEBRUARY 2018 Travel ≠≠ CITY BREAKS Seville is one UNESCO World Heritage Site after another. So close to the Arab world, Seville is a mixture of rich Moorish heritage, with rich coloured tiles and lobed arches, intermingled with western cultures. With scorching temperatures and even hotter night life, Seville is the ideal summer destination. Many Spanish traditions, like flamenco, tapas and sherry, find their roots in Andalusia's capital, giving the city a life of its own. NEED TO KNOW How to get there Thought there are no direct flights to Seville, Air Malta and Ryan Air both offer direct flights to Malaga. Seville is a two-hour train ride away from Malaga. Best time to visit With its Mediterranean climate the best time to visit Seville is early summer or autumn when temperatures are mild. However even in the winter, days are cold though often sunny, making Seville a great city destination in the winter. Currency Spain is part of the European monetary union and uses the euro. Visas As part of the European Union, Europeans do not need a travel visa to get to Seville. Seville : Tapas, toros and traditions BEST SPOT FOR SIGHTSEEING After its completion in the early 16th century, the Seville Cathedral held the title of the world's biggest cathedral for over a thousand years and is now in third place after the Basilica of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Apare- cida, in Brazil, and St Peter's Basilica in the Vatican City. The Gothic structure brings together 80 different chapels, where, it is said, 500 Masses were said daily, and is the burial site of Chris- topher Colombus. Built on the site of a mosque, there are still hints at this Muslim place of worship, particularly in the Court of the Orange Trees on the northern side. Right next door to the cathedral, and indeed part of the cathedral itself, is the bell tower, better known as La Giralda. With Moorish origins, the bell tower is a minaret for the former mosque where the Muezzin would call the people to prayer. Unlike many other bell towers, where you can reach the top by means of a staircase, this one is accessed by a series of 34 ramps. This was built in this way so that the Muezzin at the time could ride his horse all the way up to the top. The views of the city from the top of the bell tower are breath-taking, making it well worth the trip. Not too far from the cathedral, one of the most beautiful palaces in Spain, the Real Alcázar, was developed my Moorish Muslin kings. The upper levels of the palace are still used as official residences of the royal family, making it the oldest palace still in use in Europe today. From incredible carved coffered ceilings to beautiful courtyards, lush with vegetation, the Real Alcázar should be anyone's list of destinations in Seville. The Seville Cathedral was the world's largest cathedral for over 1,000 years