Entertainment

Seville is a city where leisure and culture mix with tradition and modernity, the specifically Andalusian and the cosmopolitan, maintaining roots without renouncing the present or the future. In Seville you can visit the most famous monuments, eat out on a terrace while you soak up the southern sun and hear concerts by the most outstanding musicians.

Art: Seville has a wide variety of salons and galleries for art exhibitions, among which the following stand out: Juana de Aizpuru , specialists in new movements; Felix Gómez and Rafael Ortiz, two of the city's classics; and Cavecanem, a space in which to see the best artists.

The city itself is a museum that has to be discovered by walking through its streets or by taking a ride in a horse and carriage, but without forgetting the obligatory sights of the cathedral, the Giralda, the Reales Alcázares and the Torre del Oro, which houses the Museo Naval. Among the most interesting spaces is the Museo de Bellas Artes, with pictures by Pacheco, Roelas and, above all, Murillo. The Museo Arqueológico, (Archaeological Museum) in the Parque de María Luisa contains pieces from the old Roman town of Itálica, and the Museo de Artes y Costumbres Populares takes you on a trip through the traditions of Andalusian culture. In the Plaza de Toros is the Museo Taurino, and two centres occupied with the new movements are the Museo de Arte Contemporáneo and the Centro Andaluz de Arte Contemporáneo, in the isla de Cartuja.

Cinema: Seville has plenty to offer the filmgoer, with lots of cinemas (most of them multiplexes) so that it is easy to find the film that suits you. For their spaciousness, these cinemas stand out: the Nervión Plaza, with 20 screens and Los Arcos Multicines, with 12. If you like traditional cinemas with just one large screen, there is only one choice: Cervantes, with beautiful interior architecture. If you prefer original language cinema, visit the five studios of Avenida Multicines.

Besides the commercial cinemas, there are other ways to see films, such as classic cinema in the Pabellón de Uruguay and theme seasons at the Cinemateca UGT, all in the original versions with Spanish subtitles.

Music: For opera and classical music concerts in Seville there is the Teatro de la Maestranza, but you can also see live rock and pop in the studios of Fun Club and Salamandra, or in late night bars like La Carbonería, which dedicates one day a week to Blues.

Flamenco: One of the cradles of flamenco is a propitious place for this art. That's why performances and festivals take place throughout the year in Seville and its province. Every night you can listen to flamenco while having dinner or a drink in the Palacio Andaluz, or El Arenal.

Theatres: There are theatres dedicated to the classics, such as the Teatro Lope de Vega, theatres specialising in new movements, like the Teatro Central, and children's theatres, like the Teatro de la Alameda. Of the private theatres, there is the Teatro Imperial and, for alternative productions, there are the Sala La Imperdible, the Sala Cero, and the Sala Talía.

ZONES

El Arenal: One of the city's traditional districts, it is right next to the Plaza de Toros and is a good place to have a drink, either inside or outside one of the many bars that line the streets. Among them is Arenal (El), which offers a nice atmosphere and good music. In the same area there are gay bars like the Isbili ya.

The river: There are places to drink and enjoy the pleasant summer evenings on either side of the Guadalquivir river. On the 'sevillana' bank, El Capote is one of the busiest bars, and La Torre is another. In Calle Torneo, there are also live music venues like Salamandra. In the Triana area, especially calle Betis, try Sala Boss.

Alameda de Hercules: This is one of the liveliest areas, though you should take care here because it is a little dangerous. However, you can enjoy the action in the city's most bohemian atmosphere in El Habanilla or the Bulebar, live music venues like Fun Club, gay bars like El Baron Rampante, Naima or the Cuban atmosphere of Sandunguera.

Centro y Alfalfa: There are plenty of good drinking places in the old part of town. The best thing to do is first drink a few beers in the middle of the street in Plaza del Salvador. Then you could move on to Bestiario or to the Cathedral disco. There are also classic "in" places like Sopa de ganso.

Santa Cruz: Las juderias also has plenty of drinking and tapas bars in its narrow winding streets, though it is advisable to move towards the Cathedral as the night gets on. Among them, all more or less in the same area, is Las Columnas.