Mateos Gago

Mateos Gago Street is the ‘entrance’ of the Santa Cruz district and starts in Plaza de la Virgen de los Reyes, next to the cathedral. The street is known for the view it offers on the Giralda and the many tapas bars.

The street is located at the highest point of the historic district, with remains of the Archiepiscopal Palace from Roman times. It was inhabited again in the Islamic period and important works were carried out during the rule of the Almohads. Due to the surroundings of both the Great Mosque (nowadays the cathedral) several bathhouses were built nearby, with an emphasis on García Jofre, several of which were kept in a bar.

This street used to be called Borceguinería, which was so called because it was home to the guild of shoe and boot manufacturers. In 1893 it was named Mateos Gago, in honor of Francisco Mateos Gago Fernández, a Sevillian professor, theologian, priest and founder of the Sevillian Academy of Archaeological Studies.

The street was a winding narrow road in the early 1980s where it was impossible for brotherhoods to get through it. The Brotherhood of Santa Cruz, which had only just been established at the time, had to use alternative routes.

The original layout of this street was, according to González de León, quite narrow, uneven, and crooked. The current classification was thus created by extensions to the Ibero-American exhibition in Seville in 1929.

Characteristic building:

- House number 24 and Casas de las Conchas (26) are both made by architect Anibal González.
- Baños de García Jofre, currently occupied by bar Giralda.
- Church of Santa Cruz, built in 1655 on the site of an old theater called Don Juan.
- Bellver Museum
- Casa Salinas

What you especially find in this street are tapas bars, we also call it the tapas street of Seville. It doesn't matter which bar you sit at; you will always be able to eat well.

Characteristic restaurants:

- Cervecería Giralda has a special history, namely in 2020 the news was that there were remains of a hammam from the 12th century. The owners contacted the best archaeologists in Andalusia to restore it and then share it with Seville.
Now it is a restaurant serving a lot of tapas and drinks, a beautiful place in the heart of Seville.
- San Marco is an Italian restaurant that is also located in several old preserved Arab baths from the 12th century. At San Marco, the dishes are made on local ingredients.
- Bodega Santa Cruz Las Columnas is a typical Spanish bar where many locals come to have a bite to eat and have a drink.
The specialty at this bar is the Montadito Pringa, which is a sandwich with the leftover meat from the traditional Andalusian stew.
- Álvaro Peregil is an old traditional bar known for the orange wine and homemade tapas.

Will we see you soon in Seville? Then this street should certainly not be missing during your stay!