Best Places in Seville to enjoy Orange Blossoms (Azahares) I: Triana, Barrio Leon

 

When Seville is mentioned, one of the first things that comes to mind is its oranges. The bitter ones that you can't (shouldn't) bite. As a very fortunate result, from as early as mid-February to all the way to mid-April at times, the orange blossoms can be enjoyed all around the city.

From its posh, well-manicured streets to impoverished housing complexes, one of the few things fellow Sevilla residents probably enjoy equally (albeit some with an emptier stomach) is the refreshing smell of these orange blossoms since on almost all sidewalks these trees are planted throughout the city.
Photo Credit: ABC Sevilla

In these series of blog posts, we will be sharing with the newcomers and visitors to Seville the areas one can enjoy this natural wonder while on foot. The first area happens to be where the author of this post currently resides: Barrio Leon, Triana.

Located in the most western "outskirts" of Triana, this little oasis of suburbia once belonged to a farmer called Jose Leon Leon hence the name of the neigbourhood. Most of the streets are also named after this family's offspring. A lot of the heritage buildings are townhouse style, 2 storey structures from 1920ties, and some with little gardens in front,  even some with bronze structures and some others with private internal courtyards and almost all buildings are covered with some intricate tile work.
There are also some hidden gems such as a couple chapels, a pottery studio, and a home-style cooking restaurant which makes it an ideal area to stroll to get away from the regular hustle and bustle of Triana to enjoy the songs of the local birds during various times of the day during spring.

Here are some more pictures to enjoy. And imagine when in season the lemon and orange blossoms provide quite an amazing feast of aromas due to density and close proximity of the trees to the sidewalk. Earthy and refreshing, they are waiting for you to take it all in.

Also, if you were wondering what happens to all those oranges, they are harvested a couple of weeks after the 3 Kings Festival by temporary municipal workers which create scenes like these "orange rivers" above :)

Here is a "rough" map of the area and if you follow the blue arrow you can also cross to a park called "Parque de la Vega de Triana" which is one of the most open areas in this part of the city for cycling or jogging. You can also sneak in to a hiking path that will take you all the way to the old airport in Seville along the main stream of the river Gualdalquivir.
Although this park is surrounded by some highways, which may be noisy at times, thanks to plenty of birds that occupy this park and their songs that suppress the road noise, there are many interesting bits to enjoy including a local (huerta) where some lucky residents can grow their own fruits and vegetables.

Hasta proxima!

I hope this blog post has been useful and will also inspire you to go outdoors to get lost in the nature.
If you have other places in mind please mention them in the comments or contact me if you like to share with others using this blog.
If you've tried this route and want to share tips, give more advice or make corrections, please use the comments section or send me a message.