The Plaza de España is the other great open-air room of Seville, about twenty minutes' walk from the Alcázar: a half-circle of brick and tile covering 45,932 m², with a canal, four bridges and a bench for every province of Spain. It costs nothing to walk in, and it is at its best in the last hour before sunset.
Design, date and films from Wikipedia's article on the square; entry conditions checked 20 September 2026.
What it is
Built for the Ibero-American Exposition of 1929 to a design by Aníbal González and finished in 1928, the plaza was Spain's own pavilion at that fair: brick, ceramic and ironwork curved around a square of 45,932 m². The buildings now hold government offices, which is why you see civil servants crossing a film set on their way to work.
What to look for
The tiled alcoves. Around the curve runs a bench for each province of Spain, each with a painted scene from its history and a map. Find yours, then find Seville's.
The four bridges, which stand for the ancient kingdoms of Spain, over the canal.
The towers at either end, and the way the arcade frames them from the centre.
The canal, where rowing boats are rented: the classic thing to do here with children.
The floor and the lamp posts. The detail most people walk over.
On screen
The square has stood in for places it never was: Lawrence of Arabia (1962) used it as Cairo, Star Wars: Episode II (2002) used it in exterior shots of the city of Theed on Naboo, and it has appeared since in The Dictator (2012) and the Netflix series Kaos. The Alcázar's own screen history is in Game of Thrones at the Alcázar.
When to go
Late afternoon and sunset, when the brick turns orange and the shadows are long.
Early morning if you want it empty. It is an open square, not a monument with a gate.
Not the middle of a summer day. There is almost no shade in the plaza itself; the María Luisa Park next door has plenty. See visiting in summer.
Is it free?
Yes, walking in costs nothing today. In February 2024 the city council announced that it wanted to close the square and charge visitors from outside the province, with residents exempt; the proposal met opposition from the national government, and we have found no confirmation that any fee is in force. Check before you travel: this is exactly the kind of rule that changes.
Getting there from the Alcázar
Fifteen to twenty minutes on foot, south through the Jardines de Murillo and along the edge of the María Luisa Park. Put the Alcázar in the morning and the plaza at the end of the day: that is the shape of Seville in one day.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Plaza de España free to enter?
Yes. A fee for visitors from outside the province has been proposed since 2024, and we found no confirmation that it applies.
How long do you need there?
Thirty to forty-five minutes, more with a boat or the park.
What was filmed at the Plaza de España?
Lawrence of Arabia, Star Wars: Episode II, The Dictator and the series Kaos, among others.
How far is it from the Alcázar?
About fifteen to twenty minutes on foot.
What is the best time for photographs?
The last hour before sunset, or early morning for an empty square.
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