It's a stunning, picturesque place which has been featured in movies like Lawrence of Arabia and Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones. The building itself is now used as a military office complex. During the day, tourism is welcomed and passage through the halls is permitted. At night, however, it is a much different story. The complex is guarded by soldiers, but the plaza grounds are kept open for buggy tours and strolling romantics.

The smoothly paved Plaza de Espana utilizes water as an attribute to great effect. It contains an artificial lake with lots of ducks and swans, and a large formal fountain. A thin landscaped canal separates the plaza from the main building, and cute little pedestrian bridges, daintily painted blue and white, cross between the two areas. The plaza is showing a bit of wear, as it endures the presence of unsightly construction reinforcements. Souvenir sellers and sketch artists populate the edge of the plaza, while the occasional horse carriage takes tourists around for a romantic romp around the loop.

Anibel Gonzalez designed the plaza’s large arcaded structure in 1914, and it eventually became the main office for the fair. It is constructed in a distinctive style called Sevillan Regionalism, with burnt orange brick, tiles, and marble columns. The main building follows the outline of the large semicircular plaza, with two ornately detailed towers at the ends. The tiled surfaces of the main building were used as examples of Spanish crafts and industry during the Fair.

The Parque de Maria Luisa is the principal green space of Sevilla, and is a nice place to wander after a visit to the bolder Plaza de Espana. The park contains other surviving buildings from the former fair, including a casino and restaurants. A couple of pavilions on the Plaza de America now house the Archaeological Museum and the Museum of Popular Customs. There are cool pools and walkways in the park, and many locals enjoy strolling through here.