Rent-a-bike Guide: El Arenal

Have you already done a bike tour with us and are you still hungry for cycling? It might be a good idea to discover Seville more profoundly and maybe even beyond the main touristic sights. We will be highlighting the different areas of Seville in an easy Neighbourhood-guide; Which architecture to see, which museums to visit, where to eat and drink,… little tips from locals to make sure you get to know the real Seville. We stippled out a route to make it even easier for you.

Today we will be starting off with our own quarter, El Arenal. This vibrant neighbourhood is home to some tourist attractions, as well as some hidden gems you are likely to not know about.

First stop: Capilla el Baratillo
This little chapel right around our corner is very popular among the Sevillian church-goers before and during Semana Santa. Their Hermandad has a well-known Paso participating in the procession. They have a strong link with life around bullfighting. The statues of their Paso even carry a mantel with patches that are reused from bullfighting uniforms. Before the important religious week a lot of people go visit the chapel to kiss the feet and the hands of the Jesus and Maria statues and to get their picture taken. It is a tradition among Sevillians to go visit the different churches of the processions before semana santa.

Plaza de Toros
The plaza de Toros is one of the most important touristic attractions in Seville. The bullfighting ring is considered to be the most beautiful in the world.

Tickets for a bullfight are quite pricey and the lowest priced seats don’t exactly provide you with a good view. If you are interested in the old Spanish tradition, it might be better to simply go get a tour of the arena and visit the complementary museum.

Hungry? Time for a stop at La Bulla!
If we had to pick our favourite restaurant in the neighbourhood, it would be La Bulla. La Bulla brings a modern gastro bar to the old town. Using quality ingredients they make creative dishes with lots of flavours and nice textures. Moreover the service is always friendly and the prices are reasonable too. Make sure to try their Mozarabe chicken, sticky rice and Trumpets prawns, but also the salads are worth a try! 

If you want to be sure you’ll get a table, it’s wise to make a reservation. La Bulla is very popular amongst locals as well as international visitors.

Moving on: Hospital de la Caridad
What was once a hospital to take care for the sick and poor now still functions as a home for elderly. This Baroque-style building is made up out of a chapel and interior courtyards surrounded by rooms. In the chapel, works from Valdés Leal and Morillo can be found.

To be sure it is open, it is best to go on Sunday morning. The entrance fee is 5 euros, but even if you don’t feel like taking a guided tour, it’s a beautiful building to walk or bike by. Already curious? Take a virtual tour of the chapel on their website.

Theatre-lovers pay attention!
Teatro de la Maestranza is an opera house that was built for the Seville expo 1992. The theatre has a capacity of 1800 seats. From orchestras, to ballet performances, to operas and beyond, their calendar covers a wide variety of concerts. Famous opera performances you can witness here are Carmen by Bizet, Don Giovanni by Mozart and the Barber of Seville by Rossini.

A guided tour is possible in the morning for an entrance fee of 8 euros. To witness a concert you can buy tickets at the box office, or online. Consult their calendar here.

Last stop: Amazing Margaritas at Amor a la Mexicana!
Enough culture for now, time to sit back, relax, and sip on a Margarita! Amor a la Mexicana is –like the name gives away- a Mexican restaurant, and honestly… what is Mexican restaurant if it doesn’t have good Margaritas?!
The restaurant is located right next to our bike shop (lucky us right?) and serves great cocktails. It’s a local favourite and great to relax after a day of sightseeing.

Opening hours are 2pm to 4pm for lunch and 8pm until 12am for lunch.