Summer in Seville 2016

  As the mercury soars into the low 40s (low 100 F), nightlife and cultural activities move outside and upwards - onto terraces, often on rooftops, to catch any possible slight evening breeze; and into gardens, to be near shady green plants and the refreshing sound and temperature-lowering effect of running water. The 17th summer season of outdoor concerts in the Alcazar Palace Gardens, Noches en los Jardines del Real Alcazar,  starts on 14 July, and lasts until 30 September. This is one of the most magical venues for after-dark live music, with the stage in front of the grutesco gallery, under palm trees, on a balmy evening. Arrive early and walk around the gardens - the Alcazar itself lit up is a sight to behold. As usual, the concerts are classified into various genres: old music, classical, flamenco, world, and other.  For the full programme and to book tickets (you can also buy them in person at the Patio de Banderas), see their website. Moving to terraces, a number of which are located on rooftops, a programme called Summer Hotel Time offers the best Seville hotel bars with views - whether of the street, the river, the cathedral, Metropol Parasol (Las Setas), or other picturesque churches and historic buildings - with an accompanying app called Espacios Miticos, which lists all the participating hotels.     Sherry on Top - wine and music with a view Part of this summer programme is Sherry On Top, a series of outdoor events incorporating night-time sherry tastings and live music. The first of these concerts is by Las Criaturas, and takes place on 20 July at Hotel Murillo. The rest of the performances, which last until 15 September, are still to be announced - keep an eye on their website. With a Sevilla Summer Hotel Time Card, you get 15% off drinks on the Summer Hotel Time rooftop bars. The card costs 29 euros for adults and 16 euros for children up to 13 years, and includes a panoramic City Sightseeing bus tour, a ride on the Noria de Sevilla (Big Wheel), an Aquarium entry or a Guadalquivir river cruise, 20% discount on Aires de Sevilla arab baths, 20% discount at the Museo del Baile Flamenco and 30% discount at the Palacio del Flamenco. ne euro from each card is donated to the Fundacion Pequeño Deseo ((Spanish Make a Wish Foundation), which helps chronically and terminally ill children to be granted a wish. You can buy the card at City Expert offices on Avenida de la Constitución, Patio de los Naranjos in the Cathedral, Plaza de Armas shopping centre, Metropol Parasol and the Basílica de la Macarena. Hotels taking part ìn Summer Hotel Time are: 5* Gran Melia Colon, Alfonso XIII, Barceló Sevilla, Palacio de Villapanes, EME Catedral; 4* Alcazaba de la Reina (Carmona); Doña Maria, Inglaterra, NH Plaza de Armas, Parador de Carmona, Ribera de Triana, Los Seises by Fontecruz, Sevilla Center, Silken Al-Andalus, TRH Alcora (Mairena del Aljarafe), Vincci Rabida, Alcoba del Rey, Amadeus, Don Paco, Oromana, Patio de la Cartuja, Casas del Rey de Baeza, Murillo. You can also watch outdoor movies, visit outdoor art exhibitions, and attend a wide range of cultural events over the summer taking place in various spaces all over the city, such as 21 Grados and Asomate al Patio. Pick up one of the widely-available free listings magazines, such as La Giraldilla, for the latest details, or visit their website. For details about an unusual summer theatre festival in the Alpujarra mountains (Granada province), see the previous blog post.