Parque Prado de San Sebastian, Seville

Situated near the Plaza de Espana and the Maria Luisa Park, originally designed for the 1929 Ibero-American Exposition, Parque Prado de San Sebastian is located on the site of the ancient hermitage of San Sebastian, built in the 13th century, which gave the park its name.

The park is the former site of the quemadero, the platform where many victims of the Inquisition were burned to death. The last execution took place here in 1781.

We loved this park.

Structured on two levels with paths, fountains and symmetrical waterfalls, this is a real oasis in the middle of the city.

Long, shady avenues,

on either side of these series of fountains





one after the other, this is part of the first level.

Waterbirds love it around here.

We loved wandering around here.

This is the second level, and we could not quite understand why it is so barren with yellow sand on the ground, and we wondered if there was a special reason for this. The yellow barrenness is broken by the tall palm trees and the flowering yacarandas - the blue is so vivid, and does not come out in photographs.

The yellow is almost blinding

Everywhere around the park, the ground is dotted with the fallen petals of the jacaranda flower.

The cafe/bar was a welcome shaded resting place, and we sat here for lunch twice.

There is also a second section of the cafe which is out in the open.

A wonderful place and a must when visiting Seville.