🏛️ In the heart of Seville, between the bustling Plaza de la Campana and the historic Plaza de San Francisco, lies one of the city's most emblematic streets: Calle Sierpes. With 385 metres of pedestrian route, this street has witnessed Seville's history for centuries, from its origins as a centre for artisan guilds to its role as the setting for the city's great events.
It is the place where Sevillians stroll, shop, meet and celebrate. At The Sun Places, where luxury is defined by authenticity and memorable experiences, we want to invite you to discover this mythical street that breathes the most genuine essence of Seville. Stay with us in our Luxury Apartments in Seville and let yourself be carried away by the magic of Calle Sierpes.
Calle Sierpes is much more than a shopping street: it is the symbol of the most authentic Seville. Its name, shrouded in legend, and its history, full of century-old shops and traditions, make it a must-see for any visitor. Since the 19th century it has been a pedestrian street and, with the arrival of the heat, it is covered with awnings that protect passers-by from the Seville sun. It is the place where tradition and modernity go hand in hand, where department stores coexist with shops that have seen entire generations pass by.
📜 The history of Calle Sierpes: from Espaderos to Sierpes
Calle Sierpes was not always called that. After the Reconquest of Seville in 1248, this street was known as Calle Espaderos, because it was home to the brotherhood of sword makers and their hospital. Over time, the name changed, and although the exact origin is unknown, there are several theories.
- Some historians believe that the name comes from the Cruz de la Cerrajería, which stood at the confluence of Sierpes with Calle Rioja and may have been known as the Cross of the Sierpes or of the Serpents.
- Others point out that the knight Álvaro Gil de las Sierpes lived on the street.
- It has also been said that the name could be due to the "winding" layout of the street or to an old pharmacy that used a serpent as a symbol.
However, the most widespread and fictional theory is the one that gives rise to the legend of the serpent.
🐍 The legend of the serpent: the dark origin of the street's name
According to tradition, in the 15th century children began to disappear on Calle Espaderos. The city was bewildered, and no one knew who to attribute these crimes to. Alfonso de Cárdenas, the city's regent, received an anonymous message from a prisoner claiming to know the identity of the culprit in exchange for his freedom.
The prisoner was Melchor de Quintana y Argüeso, a bachelor of arts who had taken refuge in the city's underground galleries after taking part in a revolt against the king. Melchor led Alfonso to the Roman sewers, where they came across a huge serpent about 6 metres long with a dagger stuck in it and the remains of children around it. Melchor claimed to have killed it while escaping from prison through a tunnel he had dug to the sewers.
To everyone's dismay, the serpent was put on display in Calle Espaderos, and the neighbours began to call it the "street of the Serpent". Over time, the name evolved into the current Calle Sierpes. This legend, which has been collected by writers and historians, gave the street a fame that endures to this day. Even Cervantes mentions the street in his work El rufián dichoso, where he places the card shop of a hunchbacked Frenchman he called Pierres Papin.
🛍️ The century-old shops of Calle Sierpes: guardians of tradition
Calle Sierpes has historically been Seville's commercial axis. It was home to the guilds of blacksmiths, shoemakers and artisans. Today, despite the arrival of franchises and international brands, some century-old shops are still preserved that keep the essence of the street alive.
- Sombrerería Maquedano (1896): Founded in 1896 and on Calle Sierpes since 1908, it is the only specialist hat shop left in Seville. Run by Cristina Vega, the fifth generation of the family, it retains its essence intact with wooden counters, century-old mirrors and personalised service that has attracted clients such as Jesús Quintero, Arturo Pérez-Reverte and Fran Rivera.
- Papelería Ferrer (1856): It is the oldest stationery shop in Seville and one of the oldest in Spain. Its interior, with wooden counters and a historic sign, evokes the Seville of another era.
- Confitería Ochoa (1910): A classic of Seville sweets where several generations have bought Christmas nougat, the Three Kings' ring and Easter torrijas.
- El Cronómetro, Enrique Sanchís (1901): A jewellery and watch shop with a façade that is part of Seville's traditional physiognomy.
- Café Catunambú (1956): A premises linked to the coffee roaster where Sevillians still have breakfast every day, with the classic coffee in a glass.
- Antonio García Sombreros-Equitación (1847): Another of the historic shops dedicated to the noble art of hat-making, founded in the 19th century.
These shops, which have survived crises, fashions and changes in the city, are the "last guardians" of Calle Sierpes. As Cristina Vega de Maquedano says, "right now no one recognises this street, but inside here everything is still the same".
⛪ Calle Sierpes and Holy Week: the heart of the Official Route
During Holy Week, Calle Sierpes becomes one of the city's nerve centres. It is part of the Official Route, the common route that all brotherhoods must complete to make their penance station at the Cathedral. The itinerary runs through Plaza de la Campana, Calle Sierpes, Plaza de San Francisco, Avenida de la Constitución and Plaza de la Virgen de los Reyes.
To see the brotherhoods on this stretch, it is essential to have a season ticket for chairs or boxes, as the route is delimited and it is not possible to access without it. However, Calle Sierpes is also a place of great activity during these days, with thousands of people crowding the pavements to feel the atmosphere of Holy Week. It is especially intense during the Dawn, the night from Thursday to Good Friday, when thousands of Sevillians and visitors walk through the Campana and Calle Sierpes to watch the brotherhoods pass by.
🏆 What Calle Sierpes represents for Seville and The Sun Places
Calle Sierpes represents the living history of Seville. It is the place where tradition and modernity cross paths, where century-old shops coexist with big brands, and where Holy Week is experienced with unique intensity. It is, without a doubt, the commercial and emotional heart of the city.
For The Sun Places, this street embodies the luxury of authenticity: the opportunity to stroll along a street that has witnessed Seville's history for centuries and to discover the corners that preserve the most genuine essence of the city.
Our Luxury Apartments in Seville are located in the heart of the city, just a few steps from this emblematic street, so you can enjoy this experience with maximum comfort and exclusivity.
🎭 The Sun Places: the perfect plan to discover Seville's most Commercial street
Friday: arrival and first walk
- In the afternoon, a walk along Sierpes, from Plaza de la Campana to Plaza de San Francisco.
- Visit to Sombrerería Maquedano and Papelería Ferrer, two of the century-old shops that still retain the charm of yesteryear.
Saturday: immersion in monumental Seville
Sunday: farewell with a taste of Seville
- Lunch at a century-old tavern.
The Sun Places: your luxury host to discover Calle Sierpes
At The Sun Places we believe that history, commerce and luxury can go hand in hand. We offer you special packages to discover Calle Sierpes that include guided tours of the century-old shops and gastronomic experiences in the city's best restaurants.
Ready to discover Calle Sierpes with The Sun Places?
📞 Contact us and let us design your perfect experience in Seville.
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