Plazas, houses, and courtyards are the essence of Barrio Santa Cruz; manor houses, palatial, family, or humble houses, all are singular in their beauty and enchantment. 

       Barrio Santa Cruz originated as Seville’s old Jewish Quarter.  Once Saint King Ferdinand III conquered the city, one of the largest Jewish communities in Spain came to Seville, second only to that of Toledo.

       After the expulsion of the Jews in 1483, the Jewish Quarter that extended over what today is Barrio Santa Cruz and San Bartolomé went into decline.

        At the beginning of the last century the decision was made to redevelop Barrio Santa Cruz, under the auspices of the first Regal Commissioner of Tourism, the Marquis de Valle Inclán.  The result is before your eyes.

The streets of Barrio Santa Cruz wind into an enchanting labyrinth, they are narrow and deep to keep out the burning sun of Sevillian summers and create currents of fresh air that relieve high temperatures and make any visit pleasurable.

The courtyards, shaded and intimate, lush in plants and flowers, wrap us in their peace and freshness.  Take a peek and go right in, a Sevillian’s door is always open to visitors.

There are streets in Barrio Santa Cruz that transport us to another time, streets that evoke duels, loves, and legends. 

We do not know if it is by chance, but Callejón del Agua intersects with Calle Vida… Agua and Vida… water and life… what more can we say!...