Neighbourhoods of Seville: Triana

The Guadalquivir River

Triana is a neighborhood located on the bank of the Guadalquivir River in Seville. According to legend, Triana was founded by Roman emperor Trajan.The residents of Triana, known as “Trianeros” believe that they are different from “Sevillanos” (inhabitants of Seville) given that Triana is almost an island; it is located on a piece of land that is only linked to the mainland by a bridge known as the Triana Bridge. The traditional gateway to Triana from the bridge is the Plaza del Altozano. The square features a sculpture of the famous bullfighter, Juan Belmonte.

Triana’s location on the bank of a river has caused frequent flooding over the years. During these times, the “Trianeros” were forced to seek refuge in the Saint George’s Castle. The castle has since been destroyed and in its place is the Triana Market. The most devastating floods on record occurred in the 15^th and 16^th centuries. Eventually, the problem was eliminated in the 20^th century when banks of the Guadalquivir River were reconstructed. Before the redevelopment of the 1970’s, Triana was highly populated with Romani people who usually lived in corrales. Corrales are buildings organized around a courtyard which was used as a communal area for washing and cooking. The few corrales that are still in existence today are protected cultural heritage sites.

Built in 1850, the Triana Bridge along with a small chapel on its right-hand side, are the two most recognizable symbols in the neighborhood of Triana. In 1976, it was proposed that these monuments be destroyed but the proposal was rejected and instead they were proclaimed as national treasures.  In 2005, there was a Moorish Revival style market built in Triana. Typical features of Moorish revival architecture include stripes, domes, arches, minaret-like towers and glossy tiles. The market is situated beside the Triana Bridge. The foundations from Saint George’s Castle can still be seen inside the market. A pottery museum can also be found in the vicinity of the Triana market.

Triana Pottery

Triana is home to Seville's most famous tile workshops and potteries - almost every tile you see in Sevillian bars, churches and hotels will have been handmade in Triana. The industry dates back to the Roman times when tiles were made out of clay from La Cartuja, another “almost island” to the north of Triana.The Iglesia de Santa Ana is located in Calle Pureza, the principal street in Triana. After the end of Muslim rule, it was the first church to be built. Moreover, it served as another place of refuge for the “Trianeros” during the bad flooding. Other places of interest in this street include the Sailor’s Chapel and the House of Columns. The latter was built on the same piece of land as the former Universidad de Mareantes, a training centre for sailors bound for the Americas.

Visiting Seville

The majority of the town´s bars and restaurants are located on Calle Betis, a street that runs parallel with the seafront offering unequivocally fine views of the city. Between the 21st and the 26th July, the Velá Santana takes place on Calle Betis. This is the second most important festival in Seville after the Seville April Fair. The festivities date back to the 13th century. Party-goers drink lots of sherry, dance to folk music, eat sardines and take part in a popular competition known as the cucaña. This involves trying to take a prize from the top of a pole that is suspended above the Guadalquivir River. The Easter week celebrations are quite different to those that take place in Seville. One of the most popular processions is called El Cachorro (the puppy). Legend has it that a man named Francisco Antonio Gijón drew inspiration from a dying gypsy man nicknamed El Cachorro  when crafting a sculture of Jesus on the cross, hence the name of the religious festival.