Spain Square is in the centre of Seville, as in the centre of many other Spanish cities. Next to it, on the banks of the Guadalquivir, is the Parque Maria Luisa. Beneath its green canopy, you'll find the coolness and quiet — much appreciated in the hustle and bustle of the Andalusian capital. When sightseeing in Seville with the kids, pause in the old park and don't rush from the Alcázar of Seville to the Acuario Sevilla Aquarium.
The park was given to Seville at the end of the 19th century by the Infanta Maria Luisa of Spain. In 1929, in conjunction with the World's Fair held in the city, the green space was transformed. The architect Aníbal González, who designed Plaza España, also designed the park. Today the Parque de María Luisa is a comfortable place to stroll and a museum of Andalusian sculpture and art and crafts. The park is also home to an authentic museum dedicated to the arts and crafts of Andalusia.
For all the orderliness of the park, it has retained the natural beauty of nature. Somewhere a waterfall runs down the hill, trees line the park to shade the gazebo, and somewhere even peacocks stroll around — yes, not in cages, but right along the park's lanes. Ducks and swans swim in the ponds and, like everywhere else, are hungry for treats. Parrots chirp in the tree branches. The fountains are another striking feature of Parque María Luisa in Seville. They are tiled with typical Moorish ornamentation. The Lions' Fountain, with its unusual shape, and the Lotus Pond are incredible.
Azulejos are also used for other purposes. It is used to create scenes from the novel Don Quixote de la Mancha, whose author, Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra, has a monument in the park.
The park's plants are worth a special mention. In Seville, you'll walk among date palms and orange trees, laurel and eucalyptus, and instead of blooming lilacs, you'll see an exotic Jacaranda. There are no playgrounds in the park, but as Spain is child-friendly, no one will stop your child from running around the paths. You can also cycle along the paths or... ride in a carriage.
