All Andalucia [antikvár]

SEVILLE This is Andaiusia, the favourite land for a long time of travellers and tourists from all over the world. On the following pages we shall attempt to show all the splendour, diversity, mysticism and specialness of the region. Let us begin ourtrip in Seville, Andalusia's most important city, and one of the most beautiful cities ín the world. The province of Seville is situated in the depression of the river Guadalquivir; it is bounded to the north by the Sierra Moréna mountain-range, and to the south by the foothills of the Baetic chains. Just on the left bank of this old river, known to the Romans as Betis, stands old Hispalis, the capital of Román Baetica. Seville enjoys a privileged geography and climate, and the Spanish philosopher and writer Ortega y Gasset said of it that is was "the city of reflections". In addition to these natural characteristics, other attractions are the whitewashed houses, the flowerbedecked balconies, the typical courtyards (half-way between Román and Orientál ones, but above all Andalusian) and the city's innumerable monuments. Conquered by Caesar, Seville became the Román capital of Baetica. Captured by the Arabs under the command of Musa in 712, it was called Ixbilia and