Seville’s beauty, history, and unique culture and atmosphere has served as the muse for countless artists, writers, and composers over the centuries. It is little wonder that over 100 operas have been based here. And consequently, there are many famous opera spots in Seville to visit.
Walking around this enigmatic city, you can easily see why so many operas got their start here. The winding streets of Seville’s old town hint at hidden stories. The clash of cultures and identities between the upper classes and the Roma community in times gone by offer immense inspiration for those with a creative mind. Today, anyone wanting to enjoy opera spots in Seville can find various opportunities to see some amazing places.
14 Famed Opera spots in Seville
For those true opera lovers who want to walk in the footsteps of Carmen and Don José, Figaro, or everyone’s favorite lothario, Don Juan Tenorio, exploring operas set in Seville offers the unique opportunity to visit the locations of some of the most famous scenes played out at opera houses around the world.
To truly experience the history of opera in Seville, we will guide you through some of the locations you can visit. These include settings within Bizet’s Carmen, Rossini’s Barber of Seville, and the many operas based on the local legend of Don Juan.
Insider’s tip: If you’d like to dive deeper into the rich history of Seville without the crowds, we’ve got you covered. Our Seville in a Day tour includes early access to the Alcazar, the Cathedral and the Jewish quarter.
Carmen
Bizet’s Carmen may be the most famous of the many operas set in Seville. Carmen tells the story of Carmen, a free-spirited Romani woman working in the tobacco factory. It follows her tumultuous love life and her tragic end. This story is set in many locations around the city, which still exist to this day.
The Royal Tobacco Factory
For anyone wanting to explore opera locations in Seville, the first stop should be the Royal Tobacco Factory. Carmen’s place of work is still standing and available to visit. This stunning 17th century building once provided work for 4,000 cigarette girls like Carmen. Back in its operation, it held its own courthouse and prison, demonstrating how much control there was over Carmen’s colleagues.
Today however, it is part of the University of Seville, housing the faculties of philology and geography and history. It is also home to a considerable amount of the art belonging to the university. Visits are free, but visitors are asked to be respectful of the students attending classes.
Callejón de Agua
In the story, she persuades Don José to help her escape her escort on the way to the jail within the tobacco factory. Then she goes to La Taberna de Lilas Pastia for a glass of crisp, refreshing Manzanilla sherry wine. You can try this local speciality, favoured by Carmen herself, while on a tapas tour of Sevilla’s traditional taverns. It is widely believed that the location of this fictitious bar is on one of the narrow streets in the old Jewish quarter.
Insider’s tip: As you wander around the city, take a look at the walls as you go. Not only will you take in the incredible architecture but each of the known opera spots in Seville has a plaque and an explanation of the scene that occurs there.
Calle de la Judería
This winding ancient street in the Santa Cruz neighborhood is where Carmen, and her fellow Romani, slipped away from the security forces. This street links the labyrinth of Santa Cruz to the Cathedral, and offers plenty of photo opportunities along the way.
Puerta del Príncipe: The Bullring
This is the main entrance to Seville’s bullring. This is the tragic opera spot where Carmen meets her end at the hands of a jealous Don José. You can visit the bullring and its museum in the off season, and when there is no bullfight taking place.
Figaro
The barber Figaro features in two classic operas based in Seville, Rossini’s Barber of Seville and Mozart’s Marriage of Figaro. The first tells the story of Figaro as he helps Count Almaviva win the heart of Rosina. The second is a sequel, with Figaro wanting to marry another servant of the count and the count scheming to derail the wedding. While the story of Figaro is entirely fictional, several locations served as its inspiration and are famous opera spots in Seville.
Figaro’s House
Traveling down Calle San Fernando towards the Cathedral we find ourselves in one of the most breathtaking parts of the city. It is around here where we find the Archivo de Indias, the Cathedral and the Royal Alcaza. This is where the inspiration for Figaro’s house would have existed.
Rosina’s Balcony
Looking at this building in Santa Cruz, you can see why it may have inspired the famous climbing scene in the Barber of Seville. This stunning building in Plaza de Alfaro, with its corner balcony overlooking this little square by the Murillo Gardens embodies the romantic atmosphere of that exchange.
Disappointingly, though known locally as Rosina’s Balcony, it is unlikely that this exact building is the one that struck Pierre Beaumarchais so much to write that scene. Don’t let that deter you! This plaza is one of the entrances to the Santa Cruz neighborhood, the old Jewish Quarter which features in this as well as many other operatic works.
Don Juan
Don Juan is a legendary character around Seville. He first appeared in the play The Trickster of Seville and the Stone Guest. However, Don Juan has featured in many plays. He demonstrates the duality of this Spanish city, passion and faith, of wealth and the libertine nature of the aristocracy. While he is a fictional character, you can explore the city and the sights that influenced his creators.
Plaza de los Refinadores
The first stop for those seeking the legend of this lothario should be this little plaza behind the Murillo Gardens. Here stands the statue of Don Juan Tenorio, the famous Don Juan of legend, sculpted in 1974. This little plaza is where Don Juan would have been on the lookout for the next target of his affections.
Plaza Doña Elvira
Arguably one of the most beautiful and romantic plazas in Seville. Plaza de Doña Elvira was once home to a famous playhouse and home to one of Don Juan’s supposed conquests. Popular local legend says that this plaza was once home to Don Gonzalo de Ulloa, the father of Doña Elvira. A re-urbanization project in the early 1910s created the romantic plaza we see today. And I think you would agree, it is a setting Don Juan would appreciate.
Convento de San Leandro
Situated in Plaza de San Ildefonso, this 13th century convent has been linked to the Don Juan story of Doña Inés. In Zorilla’s version of the legend, Doña Inés was a pure, innocent girl who crossed paths with our protagonist. Though the events of the story, she joins a convent, which locals believe to be this very one. Here she was to live the secluded life of a nun, in stark contrast to Don Juan’s life of excess.
Other Notable Locations
While Carmen, Figaro, and Don Juan are the biggest names in operatic works that roamed Seville’s streets, they are not the only ones to have done so. Here are some of the locations worth visiting with connections to other operas in Seville settings.
Palacio de Mañara
Miguel de Mañara was a 17th century nobleman who lived a life of hedonism and debauchery in his youth only to repent in later life, funding charitable institutions such as the Hospital de la Caridad.
Local myth puts the inspiration for Don Juan as Miguel de Mañara, however there is little evidence of this. However, Miguel de Mañara did inspire Henri Tomasi’s 1942 work, Miguel Mañara.
So it is in this section we direct you to the Palacio de Mañara on Calle Levies. This palace was bought and remodelled into what you see by Miguel’s father in 1523. Today the Andalusian government own and operate it as the office of cultural heritage.
Hospital de Caridad
Continuing with Miguel de Mañara, as part of his repentance, he joined and eventually became the main brother in the Hermandad de la Caridad. He completely changed and converted the aims of the brotherhood. Prior, it was an organization dedicated to offering comfort to convicts and ensuring they and the poor received proper burials. And it became one dedicated to the service of the living. This included the funding of this hospital, giving the city’s poor a place where they too could receive care. This remains one of the cornerstones of the brotherhood today, with the brothers all volunteering their time to help those in need.
Cárcel de Castillo de San Jorge
The dark history of the Castillo de San Jorge in Triana lends itself to the drama of opera in Seville. The seat of the inquisition in the city, one can only imagine what went on within its fortified walls. It is here where the opening scene of Beethoven’s Fidelio opens.
Part of the castle remains and is open to tourists wanting to learn more about the long history of this fortification. It´s origins can be traced to the Almohad Caliphate in the 12th century. The prison section of the castle has been demolished to make way for the Triana market.
Insider tip: You can sign up for a Triana Market Food Tour for an authentic taste of Andalusian fare!
Real Alcazar
Without a doubt, one of the jewels in Seville’s crown, the Real Alcazar has inspired many artists, writers and musicians. So it is no surprise that Donizetti set two of his operas in this spectacular location. The first, Maria de Padilla, tells the story of Maria de Padilla, the mistress to King Pedro the Cruel.
Take a look under the Patio de Crucero and you will find the baños de Maria de Padilla. These were named as such because, according to legend, she would bathe naked in the waters here. Donizetti’s other opera that used this location was La Favorita. La Favorita is set during the reign of Alfonso XI. He spent much of his rule in Seville as it was a major seat of power.
Traveler’s Tip: To learn more about the Alcazar, why not join us and beat the queues with our Alone in the Alcazar tour?
Patio de Banderas
This setting, just outside the Alcazar with stunning views of La Giralda through the gateway, serves as the perfect setting for the events of La Favorita. As said in the previous section, La Favorita takes place during the reign of Alfonso XI. Seville was an important political location in this time.
The Patio de Banderas would have been a ceremonial square in this period. It was an important location where court met the public. It also made an ideal backdrop for the political and romantic tension present in the story.
Wandering around the city, particularly Santa Cruz, you can not escape the magical atmosphere that would have inspired so many creative works. Around many corners, you are transported into another world. A world where you can almost see Carmen escaping her police escort. Or Don Juan loitering looking for his next conquest.
If you need some help finding sites of famous operas in Seville, why not go on a walking tour? Our Seville in a Day tour includes early access to the Alcazar, the Cathedral and the Jewish quarter. And, if you mention your love of opera to the tour guide, they’ll happily point out other operatic sites along the way.
FAQ´s – Opera Spots in Seville
Do I need a guide to visit the main opera spots in Seville?
Many opera spots in Seville are in public streets and squares and you can visit them independently. However, having a knowledgeable guide can help you connect each location to its operatic scene, historical context, and local legends. Details that are easy to miss when exploring on your own.
Do need to buy tickets/pre-book Seville’s opera-related sites?
Yes. Some locations connected to famous operas, such as the Real Alcázar, the bullring, or certain museums and convents, require tickets and often sell out in high season. Booking in advance is strongly recommended, especially during spring, fall, and festival periods.
When is the best time of day to explore opera spots in Seville?
Early morning or late afternoon are ideal, particularly in warmer months. These times offer cooler temperatures, fewer crowds, and better light for photography, perfect for soaking in the atmosphere that inspired so many operas set in Seville.
Discover Seville through the same stories that inspired the world’s greatest operas. Whether you want to step inside the Real Alcázar with early, crowd-free access, follow Carmen’s footsteps through Seville’s historic taverns on a tapas tour, or explore the flavors and traditions of Triana at its lively market, these experiences bring the city’s operatic past to life. Each tour adds depth, context, and local insight to the opera spots in Seville—helping you connect music, history, and place in a truly memorable way.