Seville at your feet: passages that connect the city
Everyone knows about the catacombs of Paris, but not everyone knows about the hidden passages under the city of Seville. The different civilisations that lived in Seville have left vestiges of underground caves in the city for a wide variety of purposes. Here we tell you the story of the city’s most legendary passages. Although some of the places mentioned are not open to the public, others can be visited. Besides, it is always interesting to learn about the history on which our feet walk.
Castellum Aquae
The Roman civilisation was one of the first to settle in Seville, which is why many archaeological remains from that era are still preserved to this day. In the heart of the city, under the Plaza de la Pescadería, is an enormous Roman cistern (Castellum Aquae), a true archaeological treasure discovered in 2006 and carefully restored by the Seville City Council. This monumental structure supplied water to the city during the 2nd century A.D. Although it is currently closed, there is glass in the floor of the Plaza through which this excavation can be glimpsed.
To find out more about the Roman civilisation in Seville, the Antiquarium (at the bottom of ‘las mushrooms’) is the place to go for information and to see ancient remains of the Roman metropolis.
The "inquisición's" alley
Many of the undergrounds in Seville are related in one way or another to religion, but above all to the Holy Inquisition. In its former headquarters, the Castillo de San Jorge, we can find the Callejón de la Inquisición, a small passageway that today serves to connect two streets (Paseo de la O and Callao street) but which in its time had a very different function.
It is said that the prisoners who passed through this underground passageway could only go to two places once they had passed through it: either to prison to be tried or to the stake if they were found guilty. Even today you can still see the unevenness of the underground despite the modifications to the structure (the street is now open and does not look like a passageway).
The sacred prisons
Saint Justa and Saint Rufina were two saints born in Seville and venerated in Christian tradition throughout Spain. According to legend, both were tortured in what is known as the ‘Santas Cárceles’ (Holy Prisons). This crypt is located under the Basilica of María Auxiliadora and can still be visited today.
According to tradition, after Justa and Rufina were arrested for refusing to renounce their Christian faith and participate in pagan rituals, they were imprisoned in an underground place where they were subjected to various torments. During their imprisonment, they are said to have performed miracles, such as turning water into oil in order to keep the lamps in their cell lit. Their visit is a must for any devotee.
The King's Passage
Many tourists who visit Seville today pass through Calle San Fernando without knowing that beneath their feet some Spanish king or other used the underground passages of this street to meet his mistresses.
The Alcázar was for a long time the residence of kings and princesses. According to legend, Pedro I ‘the Cruel’ had a passageway built between this enclave and the Royal Tobacco Factory with the intention of not only going out incognito, but also to meet some of his mistresses.
When the Tobacco Factory was converted into a space for the University of Seville, it was confirmed that this long-talked-about secret passageway did indeed exist and that it did in fact reach the orchards of Prado de San Sebastián. Unfortunately, this underground passageway cannot be visited to this day, but the next time you pass through Calle San Fernando you will imagine what stories the stones hide beneath your feet.
Las casas de la judería
One of the most emblematic enclaves of our city is the Hotel Las Casas de la Judería. This monumental hotel has 134 rooms distributed in 4 palaces and 27 traditional houses, all connected by courtyards, gardens and tunnels. Strolling through its corridors and corridors is like taking an express tour through the history of Seville.
One of the most fascinating tunnels is the one that runs under Calle Verde, parallel to Santa María la Blanca. This secret passageway, barely visible from the outside, was the main artery of the neighbourhood now known as ‘Las Casas de la Judería’. As you explore it, you will find remains of the Roman wall and a decoration that will transport you back to ancient Seville. Entry is restricted to guests only.
With all its historical splendour and secret passages, Seville reveals a cityscape beyond what the eyes can see. Through these underground passages, Seville offers us the opportunity to walk on history itself, connecting the times and cultures that have left their mark in and under its streets. Now is the time to visit Seville (and infra-Seville).
