Name: Plaza de España
Address: Av. Isabel la Católica, 41004 Sevilla, Spain
Rating: 4.8

Landmark square with a large water feature, seats with painted ceramic tiles & an ornate pavilion.

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The Plaza de España was completed in 1929, just in time for the Ibero-American Exposition.

Year of Completion

The Plaza de España covers an impressive 50,000 square meters, making it one of the largest squares in Spain.

Square Meter Size

The plaza features 48 alcoves, each representing a different Spanish province. They are arranged in alphabetical order, except for Seville, which is prominently featured.

Represented Provinces

The Plaza de España served as a filming location for Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones, where it represented the city of Theed on the planet Naboo.

Film Location

The Plaza de España was designed by the renowned Sevillian architect Aníbal González, who also oversaw much of the Ibero-American Exposition's construction.

Architect

A 515-meter canal runs along the base of the plaza, giving it a unique Venetian feel. Visitors can even rent boats to row along the canal.

Canal Influence

Plaza de España

The Plaza de España in Seville, a jewel of Spanish architecture, was designed by Aníbal González for the Ibero-American Exposition of 1929. Its semi-circular shape, embracing the Guadalquivir River, symbolizes Spain embracing its former American territories. The plaza's most striking feature is the series of 48 tiled alcoves, each representing a Spanish province. Intriguingly, Seville itself is not represented, as the plaza embodies the entirety of Spain. These alcoves were originally intended to display maps and historical information, but now serve as picturesque backdrops. The four bridges spanning the canal are said to represent the ancient kingdoms of Spain: Castile, Aragon, Navarre, and León. González initially envisioned a much grander fountain at the plaza's center, but it was deemed too ostentatious and replaced with the current, more understated design. The buildings surrounding the plaza, constructed of brick and adorned with vibrant ceramics, were intended to house university facilities after the exposition, a purpose that was only partially fulfilled.

Introduction

Aníbal González, the Seville architect, designed the Plaza de España for the Ibero-American Exposition of 1929, intending it to be a grand display of Spanish craftsmanship. González combined Renaissance Revival, Moorish Revival (Neo-Mudéjar), Spanish Baroque, and Art Deco styles, creating a sweeping semicircular structure that embraces visitors. The plaza, covering 50,000 square meters, became the most imposing in Spain, a landmark example of Regionalism Architecture.

González deliberately incorporated cultural references throughout the design. Tiled representations of the 48 provinces of Spain are at the building's foot, inviting visitors to photograph their home province. Four bridges crossing the canal each represent an ancient Kingdom of Spain: Castile, Navarre, Aragón, and León. The porticoed gallery boasts an elaborate coffered ceiling. Two tall towers at the plaza's ends provide balance and serve as city landmarks.

However, González did not see the project to completion. In 1927, Vicente Traver replaced him due to disagreements with the Royal Commissioner and González's declining health. González died shortly after the exposition opened in 1929. Despite his untimely death, the Plaza de España remains a testament to González's vision, blending architectural styles and cultural symbols into a cohesive and impressive landmark.

Aníbal González's Design

The Plaza de España features 48 alcoves, each dedicated to a different Spanish province, excluding Seville itself, which is represented elsewhere in the plaza, and two provinces because the Canary Islands only had one province in 1928. These alcoves, arranged around the central plaza, showcase plinth-style benches adorned with azulejos, glazed ceramic tiles crafted in Triana, a neighborhood across the river from Seville known for its ceramic artistry. Each alcove acts as a shrine-like space, presenting a tile map of the province, its coat of arms, and a tableau depicting a significant historical event or cultural scene from the region.

The tiled murals within the alcoves vividly capture moments like the surrender of Córdoba to King Ferdinand III of Castile, as seen in the Córdoba alcove. In the Ciudad Real alcove, Don Quixote is depicted preparing to battle windmills. The Badajoz alcove illustrates King Alfonso IX of León's recapture of the city from the Muslims in 1230 CE. The alcoves feature vibrant colors, with greens and blues ranging from aquamarine to cerulean, accented by cadmium yellow. Pillared shelves, originally intended to hold pamphlets with information about each province during the Ibero-American Exposition of 1929, flank the alcoves. These alcoves offer a detailed and colorful representation of Spain's regional diversity.

Alcoves of the Provinces

Plaza de España's architectural grandeur has made it a sought-after filming location for numerous movies and television series. Its use as a filming location has earned it recognition as a Treasure of European Film Culture. Most notably, it served as the backdrop for the City of Theed on the planet Naboo in Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones, where Anakin and Padmé's characters walked through its corridors. The filming took place in September 2000, requiring two days to capture just two minutes of footage.

Beyond Star Wars, the plaza has also appeared in Lawrence of Arabia, where it stood in for Cairo, Egypt, and in The Dictator, where it was featured as a palatial complex. More recently, the Plaza de España was used in the Netflix series, Kaos. From January to June 2017, Seville hosted 89 films, videos, and photo productions, resulting in a direct investment of 10.44 million euros for the city. The Plaza de España offers a visually stunning and versatile setting, making it a favorite among filmmakers.

Filming Location

The Plaza de España, a legacy of the Ibero-American Exposition of 1929 in Seville, was conceived as part of an urban development project to stimulate economic growth and strengthen trade relations with Spain's former Latin American colonies. Construction of the Plaza began in 1914, overseen by architect Aníbal González, with the intent to showcase Spain’s industrial and technological achievements within the Pabellón de Andalucía (Pavilion of Andalusia). The onset of World War I caused interruptions, further compounded by the 1918 H1N1 virus pandemic.

The Plaza de España was built to be permanent, utilizing traditional materials like brick, ceramic, iron, and wood. It is situated within the Parque de María Luisa, formerly the private gardens of the Palacio de San Telmo, which were donated to the city in 1893. The Plaza de España hosted exhibits designed to display Spain's social, economic, and cultural progress. The elaborate Andalusia Pavilion was a key feature, intended to endure beyond the exposition's duration.

The Plaza includes tile alcoves and portrait medallions from Pedro Navía’s Triana studio, depicting figures from Spanish history. While the Ibero-American Exposition of 1929 ran a deficit and is considered by some historians as ill-fated, the Plaza de España remains an iconic and enduring symbol of the event.

Ibero-American Exposition of 1929

The Plaza de España in Seville stands as a premier example of Regionalism Architecture, constructed for the Ibero-American Exposition of 1929. Designed by Aníbal González, the Plaza showcases the movement's emphasis on local industries and crafts, evident in its extensive use of exposed brick and ceramic decorations. The building integrates Renaissance Revival, Baroque Revival, and Neo-Mudéjar styles, reflecting a blend of historical Spanish architectural elements.

Ceramic murals adorn 48 benches along the plaza's curved wings, each depicting a different Spanish province, illustrating Regionalism's focus on celebrating local identity and heritage. These tiled alcoves serve as backdrops for photographs, reinforcing the connection between visitors and their home provinces. The four bridges crossing the canal are named after the historical kingdoms of Castilla, León, Aragón, and Navarra, further emphasizing Spanish history.

The Plaza's design incorporates local materials and craftsmanship, providing a boost to traditional Sevillian sectors during its construction. This focus on local resources is a key tenet of Regionalism, aiming to promote regional economies and preserve traditional skills. The semi-elliptical shape of the plaza symbolizes Spain's embrace of its former colonies, reflecting the exposition's theme and the architectural style's intent to represent cultural identity. The towers, while controversial for their height, balance the structure and act as landmarks, visible throughout the city.

Regionalism Architecture

Known as the "Venice of Seville," Plaza de España features a 500-meter canal traversed by four bridges, offering visitors a unique experience reminiscent of Venice. This canal allows for leisurely rowboat rides, providing a picturesque perspective of the plaza's architectural grandeur. The four bridges themselves are symbolic, representing the ancient Spanish kingdoms of Aragon, Navarre, Leon, and Castille, adding a layer of historical depth to the Venetian comparison.

The canal enhances the plaza's appeal, especially during the hot Andalusian summers, offering a refreshing water oasis amid the city's arid landscape. Renting a small boat to row along the canal provides a pleasant and engaging way to admire the surrounding architecture, similar to gliding along the canals of Venice. This feature contributes significantly to the plaza's charm, making it a must-visit destination for those seeking a blend of Spanish and Venetian aesthetics. The availability of boat rentals encourages visitors to immerse themselves in the serene atmosphere, creating memorable moments as they navigate the waterways of this Seville landmark. The gentle movement of the boats and the reflections on the water further enhance the Venetian ambiance, making Plaza de España a truly unique and captivating destination.

Plaza de España

Did You Know?

Year of Completion

Square Meter Size

Represented Provinces

Film Location

Highlights from Reviews

Location