Visiting the Real Alcazar of Seville!

The Real Alcazar of Seville is a must-see palace you shouldn’t miss while visiting Spain.

While traveling throughout southern Spain in the Andalusia region, you will not want to miss the city of Seville (or Sevilla in Spanish). Seville is actually the capital of the Andalusia region and is full of Spanish culture and Treasures of Traveling such as the Real Alcazar of Seville. There are so many interesting places to visit within Seville and the Royal Alcazar of Seville will top the list for many people. From the royal palace to the exquisite gardens, this should be on anyone’s itinerary when visiting Seville. 

The Alcazar Has Many Names

Depending on who you talk to, this palace might have a different name. Some people call it The Real Alcazar (Royal Palace in English), others say Reales Alcazares (Royal Palaces) and even others while using English will call it the Alcazar Palace or the Alcazar Castle. Let’s face it, most people make up their own names for buildings, but while visiting the Alcazar, I learned the real name. It’s named the Reales Alcazares because this large palace that has extensive gardens is actually made up of many palaces built by different rulers of Spain throughout history.

A Brief History of the Real Alcazar of Seville

Just like so many southern Spanish cities throughout the Andalusia region, Seville has a unique history of being ruled by multiple kings, rulers and empires. During the 1st Century, the area of Seville where the Real Alcazar is located was actually a college. Then a Christian basilica was built on the college’s ruins and when Seville was conquered by the Umayyad Caliphate in 712, they tore down the basilica to build a military fortress. Similar to the history and construction of the Alhambra in Granada.

To read more about the Royal Alcazar of Seville, visit the Treasures of Traveling website!

-- Luke Keeler

Visiting the Seville Cathedral!

Seville Cathedral was registered in 1987 by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Find out the reasons it is historical, along with other interesting facts that make this one of the treasures of traveling in southern Spain.

While traveling throughout southern Spain in the Andalusia region, you will not want to miss Seville (or Sevilla in Spanish). The city is actually the capital of the Andalusia region and is full of Spanish culture and Treasures of Traveling such as the Cathedral of Saint Mary of the See, better known as Seville Cathedral. 

It is considered the third largest church in the world and since it is also the seat of a bishop, it’s actually the largest cathedral in the world. It has a fascinating history because originally it was a mosque that was converted into a church, as was so common in the southern part of Spain during the reconquest by the Spanish Monarchs. 

Read more about visiting the the Seville Cathedral on the Treasures of Traveling website. 

-- Luke Keeler

Experiencing a Bullfight in Seville Spain!

Bullfighting is a traditional Spanish sport that is still popular in Seville. It might not be for everyone, but it is definitely one of the many Treasures of Traveling throughout southern Spain. See what it’s like to experience a Spanish bullfight.

When people think about Spain, one of the first things that comes to mind for many people is a Spanish bullfight. It has a rich history in the southern part of Spain known as Andalusia and one of the most famous bullrings in the world is located in Seville. Bullfighting is not only a tradition in Spain, but also in neighboring countries like Portugal and France and much further away in Peru, Colombia and other countries throughout Latin America, as this sport was exported to the new world. In many of these other countries, the bulls are not actually killed like they are in Spain. To read more about bullfighting in Spain, check out the Treasures of Traveling website. 

— Luke Keeler

11 Places to Visit in Peru!

Peru is a fantastic country to visit and is full of different treasures of traveling to explore and these are the 11 places I recommend to visit on any trip to Peru.

Peru is a county located in western South America. The countries Ecuador and Colombia border it to the north while Brazil surrounds it to the east and along the southern border is Bolivia and Chile. To the west, is the Pacific Ocean that allows for lots of trade in and out of the country. Peru is a country of many contrasts and is a wonderful place to visit on any trip through South America. When most people think of Peru, the Andes Mountains are generally the first thing that comes to most people’s minds, but Peru’s western coast is in stark contrast with its dry and arid desert, while to the east of the Andes is the Amazon jungle, steaming with wildlife.

Not only does Peru have stunning beauty and varied landscapes throughout the country, but the many different ancient civilizations and cultures have given Peru some of the most interesting archaeological sites in South America from the Inca Empire in the Andes to the Chimu Empire on the north west coast. Peru is filled with an immense quantity of treasures, so continue reading below and start exploring some of those 11 unique places to visit in Peru on the Treasures of Traveling website!

-- Luke Keeler

5 Places to Visit in Bolivia!

Bolivia is a fantastic country to visit and is full of different treasures of traveling to explore and these are the five places I recommend to visit on any trip to Bolivia.

Bolivia is a country of many contrasts and is a wonderful place to visit on any trip through South America. This land locked country may be one of the poorest in South America, but from the exquisite natural beauty to the stunning and varied landscapes throughout the country that might be a detail you don’t even notice. What type of landscapes you ask? Well, from the Atacama Desert in the west to the high Andes mountains and finally to the jungles of the Amazon in the east, there is an immense amount of natural beauty and diversity throughout the entire country.

This diversity not only includes mother nature, but also the many different cultures that developed in those very diverse regions of the country. Bolivia is one of the highest countries on Earth and even its very own capital, La Paz, has the designation of being the highest capital in the world! From the highest capital city in the world, to the unworldly landscape of the largest salt flats in the world, to the Island of the Sun located on Lake Titicaca, which happens to be the highest navigable lake in the world, there is some type of record setting natural wonder to explore or adventure to experience in Bolivia.

Read more about the different places to visit in Bolivia on the Treasures of Traveling website!

-- Luke Keeler