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Sevilla Seville. Pop. 704,154 . Currency Euro. Language Spanish. Time Zone – GMT + 1 hour. Airport San Pablo SVQ. Best Time to go – April and May. Average Temperatures – 5° (Winter), 35° (Summer). Seville is the capital of Andalucia and is the artistic, cultural, and financial centre of southern Spain. The city lies on the banks of the Guadalquivir River and is one of the largest historical centres in Europe. The city is home to the minaret of La Giralda, the cathedral (one of the largest in Christendom), the Alcázar Palace, Casa de Pilatos, Torre del Oro, the Town Hall, Archive of the Indies (where the historical records of the American continent are kept), the Fine Arts Museum (the second largest picture gallery in Spain), along with numerous convents, parish churches and palaces. Seville has two major events at easter time – Fería de Abril and Semana Santa. The first event is a week-long party of drink, food and dance which takes place day and night in more than a thousand especially mounted tents. The Semana Santa is a religious festival where hooded penitents march in long processions followed by huge baroque floats on which sit images of the virgin or christ, surrounded by enthusiastic crowds. Visitors will soon realise that Sevillians are excellent performers and love a party. For food fans Seville is the home of the tapas and has over 1000 bars to choose from. Other culinary delicacies include polvorones and mantecados a kind of shortcake made with almonds, sugar and lard.