A Walk Through Old Triana
Old Triana
Triana, Seville's deeply rooted neighbourhood with a flamenco soul, stretches along the Guadalquivir as a witness to the city's living history. Since medieval times, it has been home to sailors, craftspeople and merchants. Their echoes linger in its old communal courtyards and the sound of hammers in its legendary forges.
You can also explore the city with a guide and book a guided tour of Seville.
Triana's little streets invite you to wander among memories and legends. The Castillo de San Jorge, once the seat of the Inquisition, and the Capilla de los Marineros, home to the revered Esperanza de Triana, are among the landmarks shaping the neighbourhood's cultural legacy. Here, in Triana's heart, you feel the authenticity of a place shaped by cultural exchange and passion.
Triana's celebrated ceramics, with tiles decorating façades and squares, are a colourful testament to its potters' skill and creativity. Calle Alfarería, named after this ancient craft, still holds the secrets of an art that has embellished Seville and its monuments for centuries.
Triana's history is also the history of flamenco. Its bars and taverns have long been natural stages where singing, dancing and guitar come together in an art that reaches the soul. Triana's flamenco is recognised for its purity and feeling, forming a cornerstone of the neighbourhood's and city's cultural identity.
Although Triana has modernised, it proudly preserves its heritage and traditions. Walking through Triana Market, above the remains of the Castillo de San Jorge, or enjoying the views from Calle Betis connects you with its vibrant past. Old Triana lives on in every corner, tile and song accompanied by a guitar, inviting locals and visitors to become part of its unforgettable story.
1. View from the riverbank on Calle Betis
2. San Telmo Bridge around 1930
3. Calle Betis, undated.
4. Views of Seville from Triana, 1855.
5. Guadalquivir River and Calle Betis, 1909.
6. Panorama from Plaza de Cuba, with the Hotel Cristina, Torre del Oro and Giralda.
7. Onlookers at an accident in Plaza de Cuba, 1934.
8. The old Los Leones shop on Calle Castilla, 1976.
9. Los Remedios cinema on Calle Asunción, 1978.
10. Quays on what is now Calle Juan Sebastián Elcano. San Telmo Bridge had not yet been built.
11. Plaza de Cuba, undated.
12. Open-air summer cinema on Calle Alfarería, undated.
13. Calle San Jacinto.
14. Calle San Jacinto seen from Plaza del Altozano, 1970.
15. Plaza del Altozano, 1923.
16. This 1960 image shows Plaza de Cuba, Calle Asunción and the plot intended for a hotel beside the former Los Remedios convent.
17. The pontoon bridge, 1851.
18. Calle Castilla, 1912.
19. Triana seen from the Delicias quay in the early twentieth century.
20. Velá de Santa Ana festival, 1929.
21. Upper Triana.
22. Triana Bridge in the 1930s.
23. Guadalquivir River, Torre del Oro and Cathedral. Seville, 1906–1910
24. Guadalquivir River, Torre del Oro and Cathedral. Seville, between 1906 and 1910.
25. Triana Bridge, with the market entrance on the right and Altozano in the background
26. Plaza del Altozano, 1923.
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Old Triana
The history of Triana begins long before Seville became a vibrant metropolis. This neighbourhood, once a Roman settlement and later home to sailors and potters, preserves the legacy of past cultures in its winding streets. The Callejuela de la Inquisición, a narrow passage retaining traces of its dark past, shows how Triana's history is woven into Seville's.
The Corral de los Chícharos is another landmark evoking the atmosphere of old Triana. These shared courtyards, typical of the nineteenth century, were centres of community life and remain witnesses to traditional architecture and daily life. The character of these once-bustling spaces lingers, offering a journey through time.
The Puente de Isabel II, popularly known as Triana Bridge, symbolises the historic connection between Triana and central Seville. Opened in 1852, this iron bridge replaced the old pontoon bridge and became vital to the neighbourhood's development. Crossing it today feels like stepping into history, with an unmatched view of the Maestranza and the Torre del Oro.
The Plaza del Altozano, at the end of the bridge, is the gateway to Triana's heart. It has witnessed countless events over the centuries, from festivities to uprisings. It remains a vital meeting place, surrounded by façades telling stories of a proud past and a present that continues to celebrate Triana's rich culture.
Finally, we must mention the Velá de Santa Ana, one of Triana's oldest and most meaningful festivals. Every July, the streets fill with colour, music and tradition honouring Saint Anne, the Virgin Mary's mother. Dating back to the Middle Ages, this celebration offers a chance to experience Triana's joy and folklore, bringing history and festivities together in an expression of local identity.