There are so many answers for the question above, where to start?!
There are so many answers for the question above, where to start?!
Let’s first take a look at the language spoken in Spain… Spanish. Spanish is the second most spoken language in the United States of America. Forty-five million Hispanophones speak Spanish as a first or second language, and there are six million Spanish language students in the United States.
Now why choose to study in Sevilla over Madrid or Barcelona? Madrid and Barcelona are two big cities, and like all big cities they are extremely cosmopolitan, so if what are you trying to get out of your study abroad experience is a cultural immersion, then you will find it very hard to do so in such big cities (same goes if you study in any other European capital… Paris, Rome, etc).
The size of the city. Seville has a population of about 700,000 people. It’s not a village nor a city, and once you live here you understand this concept. The great thing about the size of Seville is that everywhere in this city can be reached by foot, with the centre and its sites all within walking distance away from each other. It’s a university town with over 65.000 Spanish students. It’s located one hour away from the nearest beach and only two hours and a half from the Ski Resort in Sierra Nevada (Granada). Seville has sunny weather pretty much all year around and is home to some of the most beautiful monuments, sites and architecture that you will find in Spain.
Many (if not all) of the stereotypes you have heard about Spain and Spanish culture are most probably true of Seville. From the traditional sport of bullfighting to the enchanting atmosphere at Feria de Abril (April fair), or watching the impressive processions during Semana Santa, there’s never a dull moment in this breathtaking city!
As well as having a large student population, the city offers a range of possibilities for studying Liberal Arts. Seville is a UNESCO World Heritage site for its gothic Cathedral, the Archivo de Indias (a collection of important documents concerning the discovery of the New World), and the Alcázar (royal palace). Together, these monuments perfectly epitomize the Spanish “Golden Age” and provide for very interesting historical and cultural studies, covering periods of Roman, Moorish, Jewish and Christian reign, and displaying the true mixture of cultures that have each affected and left their mark on the city of Seville in their own way. Even without mentioning these three monuments, there is no shortage of beautiful architectural and historical sites, each with their own unique story and history behind them: the Parque Maria Luisa and Plaza de España, Las Setas (giant wooden structure overlooking the city), the Real Maestranza de Caballería de Sevilla (Seville’s bullring), the Torre del Oro… With this in mind, we encourage students to get out into the city on a regular basis and we like to use the city itself as another classroom, where we integrate active learning and cultural immersion into our program.
Seville has also provided inspiration to many famous writers, artists and musicians over the years, producing some of the major pieces that most define Spanish culture today. To list a few examples, the famous Renaissance painter, Diego Velázquez, who was a through-and-through “sevillano”. Antonio Machado, the Manuel brothers and Joaquín Romero Murube were all influential Sevillian poets. Cervantes conceived the idea for his most famous book “El ingenioso Hidalgo Don Quijote de La Mancha” whilst imprisoned in the Royal Prison of Seville, and the story of the well-known opera show “Carmen” was written and set in Seville by the French writer, Prosper Mérimée. Where better to study these works than in the heart of the city in which they were set?
People say a picture is worth a thousand words, but some things must be seen for themselves. Come to Sevilla and discover the beauty of this magical city with SAIIE. Choose a study abroad city that will let you live and learn the Spanish language and culture, giving you the most authentic experience of Spain that you could possibly imagine.
There truly is no other Spanish city like Seville, so let SAIIE host you the ultimate study abroad program in the ultimate location… Os estamos esperando!
To find out more information about our Study Abroad program, please visit http://www.saiie.com/study-abroad, or apply now at http://www.saiie.com/apply-now