Macarena, Spanish Only, 2 Hours

Overview

This walk spends two hours in the Macarena district, a part of Seville that keeps being renewed while holding on to its traditions. It starts at the Hospital de las Cinco Llagas, the old Five Wounds hospital that now houses the Parliament of Andalusia, and whose stories include the ghost of Sister Úrsula and the legend linking a suitcase to the origins of the Virgin of Hope Macarena. From there the route follows the Macarena Wall and enters the Basilica of Esperanza Macarena, which enjoys wide devotion in the city.

The walk then moves through some of the oldest churches in Seville, including San Gil, Santa Marina and San Marcos, built on the foundations of former mosques and still showing minaret features and sebka panels like the Giralda's. Further stops named on the GuruWalk listing include the last coal mine in Seville, the Palace of the Marquises of Algaba, now the Mudejar Art Center, and Feria Street Market, the oldest market in the city. The route continues to the Alameda de Hércules, San Luis de los Franceses, Plaza de Montesión, the neighbourhood's corralones craft courtyards, Plaza de Santa Isabel and finally the Palacio de las Dueñas, where the tour ends.

The tour runs in Spanish only and is listed on GuruWalk. It is free to reserve, and at the end each guest pays the guide whatever they felt the walk was worth. Travellers who are comfortable following Spanish will get a route packed with legends, anecdotes and stories, from ghost tales to the origins of the neighbourhood's devotions.

Itinerary

1. Meet at Don FadriqueThe meeting point is Calle Don Fadrique, between the Macarena churros kiosk and the Macarena newspaper kiosk, at the corner of Avenida Parlamento. The walk lasts 2 hours.
2. Hospital de las Cinco LlagasThe route begins at the former Five Wounds hospital, now the Parliament of Andalusia. Stories told here include the ghost of Sister Úrsula and the legend of the Virgin of Hope Macarena and a suitcase.
3. Macarena Wall and BasilicaThe group follows the wall's winding layout and then enters the Basilica of Esperanza Macarena, described on the GuruWalk listing as the most praised in Seville.
4. Old churchesStops include the churches of San Gil, Santa Marina and San Marcos, built on the foundations of ancient mosques and preserving old minaret and sebka panel features.
5. Coal mine and Algaba PalaceThe route passes the last coal mine in Seville and the Palace of the Marquises of Algaba, now the Mudejar Art Center.
6. Feria Street MarketThe group crosses the oldest market in Seville. The GuruWalk listing notes the Thursday market may be visited if the timing allows.
7. Alameda and MontesiónA stop in the Alameda de Hércules, then San Luis de los Franceses and Plaza de Montesión, where the old regatonas once sold their goods.
8. Corralones and Santa IsabelThe walk passes the neighbourhood's corralones, courtyards where near-extinct trades are still practised, and Plaza de Santa Isabel, home of the ghost Nazarene Tomasin.
9. End at Palacio de las DueñasThe tour ends at the Palacio de las Dueñas and its gardens, the palace Antonio Machado wrote about.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points from the GuruWalk listing and from traveller reviews will help you prepare for this walk.

• Spanish only. This tour runs in Spanish and is not offered in English. You need comfortable listening comprehension to follow the stories and anecdotes. The whole route, including the legends and historical detail, is told in Spanish.
• Flat route. The GuruWalk listing states that all stops are accessible and comfortable, with no inclines. The route still covers a lot of ground across the district in 2 hours, so wear shoes you can walk in.
• Sun and shade. The GuruWalk listing says summer stops are made only in the shade and winter stops in the sun. Part of the walk is outdoors, so plan for the season you are travelling in.
• Be on time. One reviewer remarked that tourists should be more respectful of the arrival time. The group leaves from the meeting point on Don Fadrique, so arrive punctually to avoid missing the start.
• Booking details. The GuruWalk listing asks you to include a phone number with WhatsApp in your reservation. Children and teenagers occupy their own seats, so reserve a spot for each person coming along.
• Guides and content. Reviews praise the guides for their historical detail and friendly manner, with several travellers calling the tour entertaining and recommending it.

Common issues. The main limitation is the language: the tour is Spanish only, so non-Spanish speakers cannot follow it. One reviewer mentioned that tourists should be more respectful of the arrival time. The GuruWalk listing does not declare any required extra cost or deposit, and the walk is free to reserve with the guide paid what the walk was worth at the end. The Thursday market visit depends on the day and luck, as the GuruWalk listing itself says.

Questions To Ask Before You Book A Walk