Plaza de España: The Renaissance Embrace of the Americas

Why is it significant?

Stand in the sun-drenched center of Plaza de España and turn in a slow circle to take in the staggering semicircular sweep of this brick and ceramic palace.

Key Facts

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Stand in the sun-drenched center of Plaza de España and turn in a slow circle to take in the staggering semicircular sweep of this brick and ceramic palace. Designed by visionary Sevillian architect Aníbal González for the nineteen twenty-nine Ibero-American Exposition, the monumental curve spans two hundred meters from tower to tower, symbolizing Spain opening its arms to embrace its former American colonies. Look at the five-hundred-meter canal curving along the facade: visitors paddle small wooden rowboats under four ornate ceramic bridges, each representing one of the four ancient kingdoms of Spain—Castile, León, Aragon, and Navarre. Walk along the palace wall: set into the brickwork are forty-eight dazzling tiled alcoves decorated with ceramic benches, busts, and painted historical maps representing every province of Spain. Film buffs will recognize this majestic colonnade as the royal planet of Naboo in Star Wars Attack of the Clones and the dictator's palace in Lawrence of Arabia. Stroll through the leafy palm and orange groves of Maria Luisa Park toward the historic Royal Tobacco Factory.