The Plaza de España in Seville is one of the most impressive architectural spaces in Spain and one of the most photographed in the world. Built for the Ibero-American Exhibition of 1929 to a design by the architect Aníbal González, its semicircle, 200 metres in diameter, includes four Venetian-style bridges, 48 hand-painted tile benches —one for each Spanish province, with historical scenes and ceramic maps made in Triana— a navigable canal and two twin towers of 74 metres. The building fuses Neo-Renaissance, Mudéjar and regionalist styles into a synthesis of Spanish architecture that has fascinated film directors from around the world: it has served as a location for Star Wars: Attack of the Clones, Lawrence of Arabia and dozens of international blockbusters. Visiting is free 24 hours a day and is especially magical at dawn, when there is no one around.
Av. de Isabel la Católica, s/n, Seville
