It appears anyone who has been to Seville wants to either relocate there or at the very least, ranks the city as one of the best in the world, not just in Spain.  Trafalgar Tours' At Leisure itinerary for Seville embraces the concept ideally, allowing travellers to explore the city at their own pace to uncover its bounty of hidden treasures. 

An intricate maze of narrow cobblestone paths also makes Seville a fantastic place to discover on foot, but it is its offering of rich diverse cultural gems from world-famous cathedrals and palaces to gardens and courtyards, which intertwine seamlessly in a few kilometres, that lends to its unique charm and explains why so many have fallen in love with the city.

After a leisurely start to the day with our whispers in tow, we embark upon a three hour 'highlights of Seville' walking tour to showcase, in this case, show off, the beautiful tree-lined town.  Included is a visit to the Bell Tower, Giralda and the tomb of perhaps Spain's most revered national icon, Christopher Columbus, set in one of the three largest Cathedral's in the world.

By noon we are free to discover, shop, eat, lay by the hotel pool, whatever takes our fancy until the evening, and witnessing how quickly the group disperse, each taking charge to fulfil their own idea of being At Leisure, it is obvious it's a winning concept.

I choose to meander through the alleyways in search of my two loves, Spanish fashion and food, and without a sense of direction, quickly discover I am truly lost off the beaten track, but before long, I soon come out in another pocket of Seville.  This is a good time to mention that as a female traveller, at no point I felt uncomfortable amongst the male dominated crowd, or had any negative inkling toward my safety, despite at times wandering solo through narrow back streets without a map.

I did have a clear mission though, and that was to try Fideua, made the same way as Paella, but substituting rice with noodles, or in this case, what resembled tiny macaroni.  Despite having to order a portion for two, the waiter's bemusement knowing I was clearly on my own was well worth it.

As with any type of travel, sampling regional cuisine, visiting local shops, seeing the main sights, and when given the opportunity, taking in a show, all adds toward the richness of the overall the experience.  An authentic Spanish Flamenco show has to be considered a 'must-do' for any first-time trip to the country, but I was pleased that Trafalgar takes it up a notch and incorporates the show into an evening of dancing, singing, and elegant dining on Seville's popular riverbank to further enhance our experience.

For more information visit www.Trafalgartours.com.au