Santa Cruz is a very interesting neighborhood to walk and explore the city. It has narrow streets, picturesque courtyards, cozy squares with small cafes. It was founded and rebuilt by Jews fleeing from the persecution of Toledo. It is a business card for Seville.
This is one of the most impressive neighborhoods in Seville, when it was a Jewish neighborhood, it prospered. Today, the Jewish Quarter has impressive narrow streets and beautiful houses, cozy courtyards dotted with colored tiles, jasmine, and bright colors. Santa Cruz is the true heart of Seville.
Traveling around the neighborhood will take you back in time to learn and see many interesting things, such as the mysterious legends that surround this ancient and mysterious place.
The Callejón del Agua is famous for its houses with green patios. The name of the street is due to the fact that before there was an aqueduct that served as a water supply for the Alcázar.
Formerly a refuge for priests, the Hospital de los Venerebles was built in the 17th century. It is known for its unique baroque church, whose walls are decorated with rich paintings.
The famous painter Murillo, who lived his entire life in Seville, was buried in a church located in the Plaza de la Santa Cruz. Today, there is a huge iron cross stamped on this place.
The Plaza del Triunfo is decorated by a baroque column built to commemorate the rescue of Seville during the 1775 earthquake. The statue of the Virgin Mary attracts special attention.
The Archives of India building (built in the 16th century) used to be a stock exchange. Today it is a repository of documents related to the Spanish colonization of America. Walking through the winding streets of Santa Cruz, along the chain of white houses aligned in a chain, there is a pleasant feeling. The northeast of the region is famous for the fact that once there lived a famous artist of the Golden Age: Bartolome Esteban Murillo.
Among the famous squares in the Barrio de Santa Cruz are:
Plaza Santa Cruz
The area is named after the Plaza de Santa Cruz of the same name, which is decorated with a unique cross. On the east side of the cathedral and the Alcazar there are respectable hotels interspersed with old courtyards and alleys buried in greenery. This neighborhood was previously La Judería.
Venerable square
The Plaza de los Venerables stands out for the fact that it houses the Hospital Hospital de los Venerables, which was painted by the artist Juan de Valdes Leal. The area is surrounded by taverns, cafes and many terraces.
Donji Elvira Square
The most romantic place in Santa Cruz is the Plaza Doña Elvira (Donji Elvira). It is completely planted with orange trees and framed with tile tiles.
Sierpes Street
To visit the places mentioned in Cervantes' tales, you must go to Calle de las Sierpes (snakes). Today it is a busy commercial center of the city. There are numerous souvenir shops, clothing stores.
