Seville -  fresco Virgin Mary as Immaculate conception

Getty Images/iStockphoto


This 20th-century neo-baroque basilica is home to Seville’s most revered religious treasure, the Virgen de la Esperanza Macarena (Macarena Virgin of Hope), known popularly as the Macarena. This magnificent 17th-century statue, a star of the city's fervent Semana Santa (Holy Week) celebrations, stands in splendour behind the main altarpiece, adorned with a golden crown, lavish vestments and five flower-shaped diamond and emerald brooches donated by the famous matador Joselito El Gallo in 1912.

The basilica also has a small museum (treasury), accessible through the gift shop to the left of the main entrance, displaying further treasures relating to the Virgin.

Near the basilica is a stretch of Seville's 12th-century Almoravid walls.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby attractions

1. Palacio de los Marqueses de la Algaba

0.23 MILES

One of Seville's classic Mudéjar-style palaces, complete with a lovely central courtyard, this historic mansion houses the Centro de la Interpretación…

2. Iglesia de San Luis de los Franceses

0.28 MILES

The finest example of baroque architecture in Seville, this imposing (and deconsecrated) 18th-century church is a former Jesuit novitiate dedicated to…

3. Alameda de Hércules

0.38 MILES

Flanked by bars, cafes and restaurants, this tree-lined plaza is a hugely popular hangout, frequented by families, tourists and students. It's also the…

4. Palacio de Las Dueñas

0.54 MILES

This gorgeous 15th-century palace was the favourite home of the late Duchess de Alba, one of Spain’s most prominent aristocrats. Renaissance in design, it…

5. Museo Antiquarium

0.66 MILES

Housed in the basement of the Metropol Parasol, this small museum showcases the ancient finds that were unearthed during excavation of the plaza. Raised…

6. Metropol Parasol

0.67 MILES

The Metropol Parasol, known locally as Las Setas (The Mushrooms), is one of Seville's iconic modern landmarks. Built in 2011 to a design by German…

7. Isla Mágica

0.67 MILES

This Disney-does-Spanish-colonial amusement park provides an action-packed day out for kids and thrill seekers with an array of white-knuckle rides, shows…

8. Palacio de la Condesa de Lebrija

0.77 MILES

This aristocratic 16th-century mansion, set around a beautiful Renaissance-Mudéjar courtyard, boasts an eclectic look that blends a range of decorative…

  • placement: superzone
  • path: Destinations/POIs/superzone
  • possible size: [970, 250], [970, 90], [728, 90], [1, 1],
  • targeting:
    {
      "url": "spain/seville/la-macarena-and-alameda-de-hercules/attractions/basilica-de-la-macarena/a/poi-sig/411812/1342927",
      "position": "superzone"
    }