Proctor en Segovia students hit the road for a long weekend in Andalucía, exploring Sevilla and Córdoba. From climbing the 35 ramps of Sevilla's Giralda tower to getting lost in the gardens of the Alcázar, the group dove into the layered culture of southern Spain. They watched flamenco performers fill a room with nothing but guitar, cajón, and the rhythm of their own hands and feet, and stood among the arches of Córdoba's Mezquita where centuries of Muslim and Catholic history share the same walls. Read more below from Pippa '27, Gus '27, Addison '26, Ale '27, and Aren '27.
A Different Style of Learning: Excursions
Pippa ’27
This week was a different style of learning- three days of classes, tests, and presentations, leading up to a long weekend in the south of Spain. This trip to the Autonomous Community of Andalucía was especially interesting to me because prior to making the long drive down to Seville, I made a presentation on the cultural and political history of the territory. I learned all about the history of the Muslims and their rapid conquest of almost the entire Iberian Peninsula between 711 and 720 CE. The name Andalucia comes from the Arabic term used by the Muslim Moors, Al-Andalus. From my research, I knew that Seville would have some Arabic influence, but my expectations were completely blown away by the incredible Muslim-influenced architecture, calligraphy, language, and cultural identity.
The Catedral de Sevilla was the first example of Muslim architecture that left a lasting impact. We climbed up 35 ramps to get to the top of this incredible minaret/bell tower, and we learned about the way devout Muslims practice their religion. This visit showed me another side to the Catholic reclaiming of the Iberian Peninsula and their intentional construction of the looming Cathedral around the minaret.
Another place where I noticed the heavy influence of Arabic culture in Andalucia was in the Mezquita of Córdoba, which we drove two hours to see. The combination of Muslim and Catholic cultures really challenged and reshaped my understanding of Spain’s history. Seeing this cultural legacy has altered the way I approach different monuments. After researching this societal influence that the Muslims had on the southern territories of Spain, I now notice more details of religious, ethnic, and linguistic characteristics that stem from other cultures.
A First Flamenco Show
Gus ’27
One of my favorites was the flamenco show we attended Friday night as a group. I was intrigued to see the show as this would be my first time at a flamenco show. The show started out with a guitar solo, and I was especially intrigued by his skills because in the weeks prior, I took a guitar lesson in Segovia. During my lesson, I realized how difficult it is to play the guitar. My experience with my lesson made me appreciate the guitarist in the show even more. I was amused how the people on stage all had such individual talent, but all together they were very cohesive, and no person took over. I found it very interesting because of the lack of traditional instruments used in the show. The only one I recognized was the guitar, and besides that there was a cajon, which I had never seen before, but it is a fairly simple instrument as you play it by using your hands and hitting against the front of the cajon. All other sounds in the show were from the clapping of hands and tapping of shoes. I was amused by the musical effect the show had with such a limited number of instruments. Overall, this experience was one of my favorite parts of our time in Sevilla.
The Alcázar of Sevilla - Addison ’26
Out of all of the places we got to visit, the Alcázar was by far my favorite. The Alcázar was originally built to be a fortress during Islamic rule. It is actually the oldest royal palace still in use. When the royal family comes to visit, they will still stay there, so it was amazing that we were able to visit the palace. Another thing that Alcázar is used for is movie sets! Game of Thrones was filmed there, as well as a few other movies.
I was amazed by the beauty of the place when we first walked through. We were inside from the tiles to the art, it was all perfect. It was all so meticulously done and picked. Once we went outside, that's when I was really blown away. The gardens and architecture outside were astounding. After being outside for no more than five minutes, I saw a peacock! Another favorite part of mine was the water features; there was a small pond with a beautiful fountain in the middle, and a stunning wall behind it with eight paintings displayed within beautiful arches. There was also this beautiful water fountain with water spewing from each time, and it was unbelievably pretty. All of the garden was perfectly built and well kept.
This trip really made me realize how grateful I am to be in Spain. Getting to see these once-in-a-lifetime places was really amazing, and I am so lucky to have the opportunity to be here. While walking around with some of my group members, we were all just talking about how this has to be one of the most beautiful places we had ever been. I am so happy I got to go on this trip and so grateful I got to see this beautiful place.
The Alcázar of Sevilla - Ale ’27
From the smallest details on the walls to the vast garden and maze outside, everything was truly beautiful. I was amazed by how Spain kept improving it and making it better instead of making a new one. Building on it from the past is what makes it special because it keeps its history alive. This experience helped me understand how important history and tradition are in Spanish culture. The care taken to preserve and improve the Alcázar shows a deep respect for the past and a desire to keep it meaningful in the present.
By the way, everything was perfectly placed or sculpted, which made me wonder how much time goes into building and maintaining a beautiful place like that. Also, how can everything remain intact without falling apart after so many years? Many questions came to me when I was visiting, and it was a great experience. This was my favorite place we’ve visited in the entire program so far. There were some great viewpoints in the garden outside, and it was refreshing to be there. My favorite moment was when most of the group was in the maze, and we played a little game of hide and seek which made the experience better.
Sevilla’s Cathedral
Aren ’27
My highlight of our excursion to Andalucía took place in the beautiful city of Sevilla, situated in southern Spain, about 7 hours south of Segovia. It was our second day, and it was rainy, so my group and I spent the morning inside the Sevilla Cathedral. The cathedral wasf about a 10-minute walk from our cozy Airbnb, and from the outside, it looked pretty, but nothing could have prepared me for what awaited inside. Immediately after walking in, I was taken aback by the elegant paintings and portraits on the walls. Seeing these and reading their meanings changed my perspective on the cathedral. I knew I would enjoy being in this gorgeous structure with such a rich background surrounding two different cultures, but I did not realize the effect it would have on the rest of my time in Sevilla. I had finally begun to understand what profound history was behind the making of not only this cathedral but everything in Sevilla.
I used this realization to fuel my curiosity as we visited other historical places in Sevilla and Cordoba. I became more interested in the background of the places rather than just their physical appearance. I learned that when I took the time to wonder why these monuments were the way they were, I gained a clearer insight than I would have if I just looked at the breathtaking buildings, took a photo, and carried on my way. I stopped only judging on the look of these buildings, but dug deeper into the sophisticated background, and I plan to carry this back with me to Segovia.
I am already so in awe of where I get to go to school and live, however I plan to immerse myself more into the Segovian lifestyle to enhance my knowledge of Spain with this changed mindset. Overall, I learned what a difference in curiosity can do in a short time and am excited to see what the rest of our term will be like.
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