Expo ''92 is credited with drawing global attention to Sevilla. The city''s infrastructure was greatly improved by a series of urban projects. The former site of Expo ''92 is now a splashy amusement park along the west bank of the Guadalquivir River. It is open seasonally, from April through September. The Isla Magica concentrates on themes surrounding 16th Century Spain, with a few roller coasters and water rides thrown into the mix.
Note the two gleaming white bridges that span the Guadalquivir River. Both of these graceful landmark bridges were completed in time for Expo ''92. The Puente de la Barqueta, a symmetrical suspension bridge engineered by Juan J Arenas and Marcos J Pantaleon, is now used as the main gateway to the Isla Magica theme park and the Sevilla Tecnopolis technology park. Just to the north is the asymmetrical Puente del Alamillo, a wildly angling design that reveals and celebrates the engineering background of architect Santiago Calatrava. The cable-stayed bridge interacts uniquely with the inclined pylon, which almost seems to visually pull at the cables that hold up the bridge. Calatrava''s dynamic design looks like some sort of musical instrument instead of just a bridge.
Architects Tadao Ando (Japan) and Nicholas Grimshaw (United Kingdom) designed Expo pavilions for their respective countries. Most of the pavilions of the nations have been dismantled, and the Sevilla Tecnopolis technology park now occupies most of this real estate. Two pavilions that remain are those of America and Chile. A "telecabina" crosses over the grounds if you do not want to walk all the way to the opposite end of Isla Magica.
Just south of Isla Magica is "La Cartuja" Monasterio de Santa Maria de las Cuevas, a 14th Century monastery that was rehabbed as part of the Expo ''92 World Exhibition. La Cartuja was the home for Columbus for several years. This complex now houses the Centro Andaluz de Arte Contemporaneo, which features modern art by local artists as well as some international exhibits.