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Few cities capture the heart of a visitor quite like Seville. The capital of Andalusia is a place where history, culture and modern Spanish life come together to create an unforgettable experience. The city's rich history is immediately visible in its spectacular architecture, something which has captivated travellers since the early 19th century. The impressive Seville Cathedral, one of the world's largest Gothic churches, dominates the skyline, while the iconic Giralda tower rewards those who climb it with breathtaking views. Throughout the year, the city comes alive with famous celebrations such as Semana Santa, something that also attracted the attention of the 19th century romantic travellers, such as Richard Ford. Along with the world-famous Feria de Abril, these festivals fill the streets with tradition, music and spectacular displays that have long attracted visitors from across the globe. What truly makes Seville so captivating, however, is its atmosphere. Welcoming, vibrant and rich in character, the city has long enchanted the many foreign artists and cultural figures who have passed through it over the past two centuries. They were drawn not only to its unique charm but also captivated by its romantic allure and awed by its remarkable historical, religious, and architectural heritage. Spain acquired a European vogue during what is called the ‘romantic era’, a time when the theorisers of the romanticism movements in the UK, France and Germany began to discover Seville. This period offered foreign artistes a rich source of themes and settings inspired by Andalucía and its people, their traditions and their music. Their ideals were inspired by the picturesque and the passionate, the chivalresque and the medieval image of the city. These ideals are highlighted in the new book; Seville, a legacy of enchantment, a volume that examines the city during the 19th to 21st centuries, and the romantic travellers who visited - often writers and artists, but also industrialists, diplomats, politicians and clerics. These include Lord Byron, Washington Irving, Robert Dundas Murray, Charles Pickman, Benjamin Disraeli, Ernest Hemingway and Orson Wells, among others. Seville: a legacy of enchantment is available from Amazon

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