Seville can really boast about its wide variety of parks, both private and public. The city has some of the most beautiful city parks in Europe, including the Park of Maria Luisa, as well as numerous plazas and open spaces where you can happily people watch for hours. For a leisurely stroll, it's hard to beat the Paseo de Colon on the banks of the Guadalquivir River which stretches from the bridge leading to the interesting area of Triana to the historic Toro de Oro.
The oldest garden remaining in Seville is the Patio de Los Naranjos (Orange Tree Patio). It was once part of the old mosque, where the worshippers washed their hands and feet in the fountains before prayer. The patio is now part of the city's cathedral. Also of the same period is the garden in the Casa de Contratacion (House of Trade) in the Alcazar. It has recently been restored with the addition of some handsome American palm trees. You will also see that the Alcázar has a host of other beautifully landscaped gardens.
The parks and gardens include many that were the former private gardens and parklands of the city's nobility. Whether it is just a small square with surrounding trees or a larger open space, they are all peaceful places to relax. But don’t forget the small private gardens that you can see everywhere. Some of the prettiest have been developed on the concrete in areas such as Santa Cruz. You can often see them through the fence or gate.
Here are a few public spaces which you could try for people watching and great relaxing.
Parque de María Luisa - Avenida de la Borbolla, Paseo de las Delicias.
This vast parkland in the centre of Seville is well planted and features an enormous amount of attractions. Named after Princess María Luisa, who donated part of the grounds from her Palacio de San Telmo to Seville in 1893, the park has been well designed and is heavily planted with trees, shrubs and flowers from around the world. The park's most impressive features are the Plaza de España and the Plaza de America.
Delicias gardens - Paseo de las Delicias
These were created during 1825-1835. In 1864 marble pedestals and busts were brought to this garden from the Gardens of the Archiepiscopal Palace of Umbrete and formally located in the Plaza del Museo. At the time of the Latin American Exhibition of 1929, the Pavilion of Guinea (which no longer exists) and the Pavilion of Morocco were constructed within extensions of these gardens.
Catalina de Ribera gardens - Ave. Menéndez y Pelayo
These gardens, nestling against the alcazar walls, were created in 1898 from the donation of a wide strip of the Huerto del Retiro. In these gardens is the monument to Caterina de Ribera, the work of Juan Talavera and Heredia.
Murillo gardens - Avd. Menéndez y Pelayo
The Murillo Gardens also stand adjacent to the Alcazar and contain many sculptures showing the artistic excellence of the Sevillian artists. The gardens were created by the cession made in 1911 by King Alfonso XIII from the Huerto del Retiro. In these gardens is the square dedicated to the painter García Ramos, which was erected on the initiative of his students.
San Telmo gardens
This is the gardened area between the Avenue of Mª Luisa and the Avenue of the Rábida. The gardens originally belonged to the Palace of San Telmo and were granted to the City by the Church, the then owner of the area, to enable the construction of several pavilions for the Latin American Exhibition of 1929. They were used from 1958 to 1980 to host the Latin American Fair of Samples.