In the northeastern corner of the Parque de María Louisa (María Louisa Park) in Seville, Spain, stands an impressive monument: the Plaza de España, or “Spanish Square.”
The Plaza de España was built in 1928 in advance of the 1929 Ibero-American Exposition. Nearly a century later, its impressive arches and towers ensure it remains one of Sevilla’s most recognizable landmarks.
Designed by Seville-born architect Aníbal González, the Plaza is staggeringly large. The semicircular structure has a radius of 656 feet and total floor area of nearly 540,000 square feet, bisected by a 1,690 foot long canal.
It is not just Plaza de España’s scale that impresses the eye. Details including ornately carved columns and thousands of hand-painted ceramic tiles make the structure a sight to behold both up close and from afar.
Another interesting feature of the structure is its inclusion of 48 tiled alcoves, representing each of Spain’s provinces at the time it was built. These alcoves are popular among domestic Spanish tourists, who often pose for picture with the one representing their home province.
The Plaza receives thousands of visitors every day, but millions more around the world may have already seen it without realizing it. The square has been featured in the background of a number of movies, including Lawrence of Arabia, Star Wars: Attack of the Clones, and The Dictator.
The Plaza is more than than just a tourist destination and movie set, though. Its towers have been renovated are actively used today as government buildings.
As part of my WorldStrides program, I live in a homestay that is less than a mile away from Plaza de España. I often go running in the park, and always run through the square when I do.
It’s a surreal experience to casually encounter such an impressive sight as part of the ordinary rhythm of my day, and I’m sure I’ll miss it when I return home.