- Conventional:
- Seville
- Ancient:
- Hispalis
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Modern Sevilla is the most important inland port of Spain. The port’s principal exports are wines, fruit, olives, cork, and minerals. Its imports include oil, coal, and metallurgical products, which serve the Guadalquivir valley and other areas of Andalusia. The city’s industries include the manufacture of tobacco, armaments, porcelain, aircraft parts, chemical products, and agricultural machinery. Shipbuilding became a major industry after World War II, as did the manufacture of textiles from locally grown cotton. Commerce, services, and tourism are other economic mainstays of the city.
Cultural life
Sevilla is known for its celebrations and festivals. One of the most famous of these occurs during Semana Santa, or Holy Week, the seven days leading up to Easter. The festival features colourful processions of floats, depicting religious scenes and carried by cofradías (brotherhoods) from their churches to the Cathedral of Santa Maria. The city’s April Fair, first held in the mid-19th century, celebrates the Andalusian countryside. Sevilla hosts the Biennial of Flamenco Art, and flamenco performances are prevalent in the city’s many tablaos (bars). Other neighbourhood and religious festivals are held throughout the year. There is a bullring in the city.
Five miles (8 km) northwest of Sevilla are the ruins of the large Roman town of Itálica, which was the birthplace of the emperors Trajan and Hadrian. The remains of its amphitheatre are especially imposing.