With colder weather on the way, many people might be looking for a quick getaway to soak up some winter sun. A beautiful European city is forecast to be over 30C this week. Seville is the capital and largest city of the Spanish community of Andalusia in the southwest.

Weather maps from WXCharts have forecast the city to reach 31C on Frida (October 24), alongside Cadiz and Gibraltar. This is above Seville’s maximum temperature for the month, making it a real opportunity for tourists. October in the city has an average temperature of 20C, with highs of 26C and lows of 15C. There are direct flights to Seville from London, Manchester, and Birmingham, taking about two hours and 45 minutes. Seville’s old town (Casco Antiguo) contains a UNESCO World Heritage Site comprising three buildings: the Alcázar palace complex, the Cathedral of Saint Mary of the See, and the General Archive of the Indies. The Alcazar is a sprawling palace and garden complex dating back to the 12th century. It was used as a filming location for Game of Thrones.

The cathedral, one of the largest in the world, dates back to the 15th century and incorporates parts of the city’s former mosque. One of the city’s most prominent landmarks is the bell tower, the Giralda, formerly the minaret of the Almohad mosque.

To the north of the centre is the Macarena neighbourhood, which contains some important monuments and religious buildings, such as the Museum and Catholic Church of La Macarena, and the Hospital de las Cinco Llagas. 

The city walls were first built at the order of Julius Caesar, but were rebuilt after a Viking attack in the 9th century and expanded in the 13th century. The Seville harbour, located about 50 miles from the Atlantic Ocean, is the only river port in Spain.

The tapas scene is one of the city’s main cultural attractions: people go from one bar to another, enjoying small dishes. Local specialities include fried and grilled seafood, grilled and stewed meat, spinach with chickpeas, Jamón ibérico, lamb kidneys in sherry sauce, snails, caldo de puchero, and gazpacho.

Typical desserts from Seville include honey-coated sweet fritters, fried slices of bread with honey, deep-fried sugar-coated ring doughnuts, and fairy cakes.

Bitter Seville oranges grow on trees lining the city streets. Large quantities are exported to Britain to be used in marmalade. Locally, the fruit is used in aromatherapy, herbal medicine, and dietary products, rather than as a foodstuff

December and January are the coolest months but still mild, with an overall average of 12C, an average maximum temperature of 17C and a minimum of 7C.