By Fiona Flores Watson
Built more as a traditional park, this is very close to the Jardin Americano, but you need to know exactly how to get there, it’s not signposted (which means it’s quiet and little-visited): leave through the gate at the lake end, turn left walk and along next to the cycle lane. Next to you on one side is a bank of vegetation (behind this is the Auditorio Rocio Jurado), thickly carpeted in flowering climbers such as buddleia; on your other side are eucalyptus, elm and poplar trees, on the river bank. You’ll find the entrance gate to the Jardines past this bank on your left; the other entrances are further along the cycle lane, or behind Antique bar (opposite Isla Magica), for those arriving by car.
Once inside the Jardines del Guadalquivir, you’ll see pools dotted with waterlilies and wildfowl, with viewing platforms to get a closer look; a herb garden, modelled after those in convents, with aromatic plants used for cooking and medicine; a rose garden; an avenue of orange trees; a maze with look-out tower, handy for spotting lost children; and a grassy area with a brick 8-shaped sculpture, after the NO8DO symbol of Seville, by Eva Lootz. You can spot other sculptures, as well as abandoned towers, bars and stages, dotted around the park; all were commissioned for, and used during, Expo 92. It’s slightly eery to see these forgotten monuments from Seville’s big moment on the world stage two decades ago, but fun to discover them with no one else around.
Address: Camino de los Descubrimientos, Isla Cartuja
Tel no: 954766699
Entrance: free
Opening hours: 8am-10pm daily
Note; there’s no café or shop, so bring drinks and snacks.
