6 Best Mysteries and Legends Tours in Seville

The city of Seville is as beautiful as it is intriguing. Its long history is dotted with tragic events, plagues, unrequited love and ruthless inquisitors: the perfect cocktail for any lover of enigmas and mysteries.

Among the things to see and do in Seville, a mystery tour is always a good option. There are dozens of different routes, and the first focuses on haunted mansions. Some spirits continue to torment the living...

Being such a beautiful city, it is not surprising that some souls decided to stay here. Sevillians are well aware of the legends of spirits, and some swear they have seen a woman in a nightgown at the Álvarez Quintero Theatre or a 19th-century monk in Seville's town hall.

Haunted places are scattered throughout the old town, from the Santa Cruz neighbourhood to Triana.

The British Institute and its white lady, the Don Cecilio bookshop and its ghost of the same name, and Casa Fabiola with its spirit of the Archbishop of Westminster are just some of the stops on these tours. These types of tours are generally intended for those over 12 years of age.

• Duration: 1 hour and a half
• Price: approximately £10

These routes explore the multicultural history of Seville, focusing on the mysteries linked to the peoples who lived here.

Seville was a crossroads of cultures. Although its origins date back to the Tartessians, it became an important commercial centre during Roman times. It was known as Hispalis and traces of this period have survived to this day.

The columns of Hercules and Caesar in the Alameda de Hércules and the remains of the aqueduct in the nearby town of Carmona are two witnesses to the Roman past.

Seville did not lose its importance during the Visigothic or Islamic periods, when it was renamed Isbiliya. Although it depended on the Caliphate of Cordoba, it was one of the most important cities in Al-Andalus.

Before the arrival of the Christians, it was also home to a large Jewish community, who lived mainly in what is now the Santa Cruz neighbourhood. The gypsy community, concentrated mainly in Triana, Seville's most picturesque neighbourhood, is also worth mentioning.

• Duration: approximately 2 hours
• Price: between £5 and £10

Do you know the story of Princess Cava? Have you ever heard of the Pinzón brothers? The history of Seville has been written in this neighbourhood, and these are just two examples of its many legends.

As the birthplace of flamenco, some stories revolve around the origins of this art form, which has been declared Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO.

There is a lot to see in Triana, and a guided tour is the ideal way to capture its essence. There are several routes, and almost all of them cover the neighbourhood's highlights - Santa Ana Church, San Jorge Castle, Casa de la Esperanza, Calle Betis and the old Cava de los Gitanos - and in some cases they even reach the Isla de la Cartuja.

• Duration: 2 hours
• Price: around £8

The Knights Templar played a fundamental role during the Reconquista. King Ferdinand III rewarded their help with a number of concessions, many of which are located in the city of Seville.

In recent years, some tourist agencies have specialised in routes dedicated to the Templar past, which include the following points:

• Barrio de San Bernardo, a district that owes its name to Saint Bernard of Clairvaux. The French monk praised the Knights Templar in his work "Glorias de la nueva Milicia" (Glories of the New Militia).
• Jardines de la Buhaira, a green area that has cooled the city since the time of Al-Mutamid, the last Abadi king of Seville. The Knights Templar settled in this same place before launching their attack on the city.
• Church and Hospital of La Caridad, a Baroque masterpiece. Its construction is attributed to Miguel de Mañara, a member of the Order of Calatrava.
• El Arenal, a neighbourhood with a splendid past. During the colonial era, gold and silver from America landed in the nearby Canal de Alfonso XIII. Its main icon is the elegant Plaza del Cabildo. Every Sunday morning it hosts a numismatic and philatelic market.
• Patio de los Naranjos, adjacent to Seville Cathedral with its typical citrus trees. During the Golden Age, it was frequented by people of dubious reputation; as it was located inside a church, it was not subject to civil law

The Order of the Temple was very powerful, yet it had an even more formidable enemy: Philip IV "the Handsome". The King of France incurred a large debt with the Templars and, unable to pay it, decreed that the movement be outlawed. A papal bull put an end to the story in our country as well.

• Duration: between 1 hour and 1 hour and a half
• Price: approximately £10

The cemetery dedicated to San Fernando is the most monumental in Seville and is home to the tombs of the city's most illustrious figures. It was built in the 19th century and is inspired by the Père-Lachaise cemetery in Paris. Its mausoleums and sculptures provide the perfect backdrop for dramatised tours.

In some cases, the tours focus on the representation of Don Juan Tenorio, the famous play by José Zorrilla. On other occasions, night-time walks will take you to various corners of the cemetery, where actors will bring the stories of the deceased back to life. The guide knows dozens of chilling stories and legends.

As the icing on the cake, a violinist enlivens the tour, helping to create an atmosphere of mystery. Due to their content, these tours are not recommended for children under 14. If you are travelling to Seville with children, I recommend reading the article dedicated to them.

• Duration: 1 hour and a half
• Price: between £10 and £15

In 1649, the capital of Seville suffered the worst epidemic in its history. It was a disastrous year for the city: poor grain harvests and the overflowing of the Guadalquivir River paved the way for the plague that claimed the lives of more than 60,000 people.

The Movistar series explains this chapter of Seville's history very well.

The plague of the 17th century has left its mark on different parts of the city, and there are routes that reveal the mysteries of this dark period.

The first stop is usually the old Puerto de Indias, where ships from the Americas landed laden with gold, spices and, unfortunately, black rats carrying the Yersinia pestis bacterium. The routes also take in the following points:

• Alameda de Hércules. What is now a large tree-lined square was once a marshy area: the ideal habitat for the spread of disease. There are many bars and some tapas tours pass through here.
• Casa de la Moneda, a small neighbourhood that guarded the riches from America. In the 17th century, Seville was very important as it was the starting point for trade with the New World.
• Reales Atarazanas, shipyards for building galleys that were built during the reign of Alfonso X. It was the gateway for the plague in Seville.
• Casa de Monardes, the residence of the doctor and botanist of the same name. He helped the sick during the peak of the epidemic.
• Hospital de las Cinco Llagas, the sanatorium that took in the dying.

The guide will explain the most relevant details that will help you discover a different side of the city. Sometimes, these urban routes are inspired by the Movistar series and stop in front of the buildings where the recordings took place. Guided tours usually start from a central location such as the Cathedral or the Torre del Oro.

• Duration: between 1.5 and 2 hours
• Price: around €10 per person

Are these tours suitable for children?

Most of these tours do not allow children under 12 or 14 years old. In any case, if you or your companion are easily offended, it might be better to choose another route.

For example, you can choose a tapas tour of Seville or a bike tour.

Book a tapas tour of Seville

Seville is a charming city dotted with beautiful monuments. If you are tired of traditional visits and want to experience something different, a mystery and legends tour is a great option. You will see the city from a different perspective without missing out on its history.

What's more, these tours take place in the afternoon/evening, which is very important if you are visiting Seville in summer. Between June and early September, daytime temperatures reach 40ºC and in some cases can reach 45ºC. Fortunately, after sunset, the mercury drops and stabilises at around 20ºC.

Of course it is! In a way, we can say that winter hardly exists in Seville. The coldest month is January, but don't expect freezing temperatures: they usually range between 6º and 16º. A coat and a light scarf are enough for a comfortable tour.

For more information about things to do during the cold months, I recommend reading the post about what to do in Seville in winter.