Seville (Spain Andalusia)

Seville (Sevilla) is Spain's only river port (locode ESSVQ), as well as the capital and largest city of Andalusia (Spanish autonomous territory). The city is located on River Guadalquivir and has population around 700,000 (metro around 1,5 million), ranking it Spain's 4th-largest - after Madrid, Barcelona, and Valencia.

After the 17th century, the city started a gradual economic decline as the river traffic was relocated to the nearby seaport Cadiz (the principal cruise port to Sevilla).

All large cruise liners to Sevilla dock at Port Cadiz (approx 130 km / 80 mi to the south) and their passengers are transported to the city via chartered tour busses. However, smaller-sized ships and superyachts can navigate up Guadalquivir River to dock at Seville Harbor, which is approx 80 km (50 mi) away from the river's mouth.

Seville Harbour (via Guadalquivir) offers access to the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean (via Gibraltar UK). Port Seville underwent a major reorganization, resulting in annual cargo volume increase of 5,3+ million tons.

Sevilla's Old Town area is sized 4 km2 (2 mi2) and houses 3x UNESCO sites - Archivo General de Indias (16th-century merchants' exchange), Reales Alcazares de Sevilla (13th-century royal palace complex/aka al-Qasr al-Muriq/The Verdant Palace) and Seville Cathedral (Catedral de Santa Maria de la Sede/16th-century).

The town (as Hispalis) was established by the Romans and, following the Muslim conquest (8th-century) was renamed Ishbiliya. During Muslim Spain (aka Islamic Iberia, when the country was known as Al-Andalus) it was the second-largest city (after the capital Cordoba) of the Caliphate of Cordoba (929-1031 AD).

In 1248, Sevilla became part of Reino de Castilla/Kingdom of Castile (1065-1833) under King Ferdinand III (1201-1252). Seville became one of the Spanish Empire's biggest economic hubs after the Americas were discovered, as the river port was enlarged and used for Transatlantic trade. In 1519, Ferdinand Magellan (1480-1521) departed from Sevilla on the first world circumnavigation voyage.