All tourist itineraries in Seville begin in Spain's Plaza de España. It's not unusual for guidebooks to praise the architectural ensemble of the square, designed by architect Aníbal González. But if you're visiting Seville with kids, it's worth checking out the other attractions. The Military Museum of Seville, for instance, is free to visit.
Note that Spain has museums of this kind in many cities (one of them is the Canary Islands Military Museum). The Ministry of Defence of the country supervises their work. The exposition is designed to illustrate the development of armaments and to emphasize that the main task of the modern army is to ensure the security and defence of the country.
The Seville Museum is based on the collection of the Armoury, founded in 1897. But it was not until 1992 that visitors could see the collection for the first time. A 2,000-square-metre building was allocated to house the 5,000 exhibits. The 12 halls trace the history of warfare and the struggle for peace from ancient times to the present day.
What does the army need? The first answer that comes to mind is weapons. Weapons make up the lion's share of the Museo Militar Regional collection. You will see an entire arsenal of cold and firearms, cannons of all types and sizes, examples of modern weaponry, and ammunition of various types. And in some showcases, whole armies of soldiers march around. And a curious child will finally be able to find out what kind of weapons the ships had, how the different types of troops were armed, and what weapons the pirates preferred.
What else is on display in the exhibition halls? Everything related to military affairs: uniforms and headgear, maps, flags, coats of arms, decorations, models of fortresses and fortifications, devices for encryption and transmission of information, and much more. Antique armour and uniforms can be seen on mannequins or paintings. The work of the medical and transport services, as well as that of chaplains, is also illustrated. There is a section devoted to the UN peacekeeping mission.
It is interesting to draw children's attention to things that help them understand the everyday life of the military. For example, there is a complete set of tools for cleaning the barrel next to antique cannons. At the end of the tour, you can take a boat ride down the canal in Plaça Espanya Square or walk in the neighbouring Parque Maria Luisa.
