Alameda de Hercules

Prior to its transformation, the Alameda de Hercules territory was part of the easternmost branch of the Guadalquivir River . It crossed the current areas of the city center through Alameda towards New Square and ended in the El Arenal area . After this branch was cut off by a dam in 1383, its basin turned into a swampy pond fed by an aquifer and frequent river-level elevations ^[2] .

In 1574, Count Barajas drained the area even further by constructing irrigation canals and fountains, as well as planting lines of coastal white poplars. Four columns separated the promenade from the trees. Initially, it was planned to take four columns from the ruins of a Roman temple on Marmoles Street, supposedly dedicated to Hercules . However, when moving the third column, it fell apart, leaving the work temporarily incomplete. Thus, the two columns at the southern end of Alameda de Hercules originally belonged to the Roman temple, while the northern columns are more modern reproductions. Two sculptures were placed on two southern columns: Hercules (the mythological founder of Seville) and Julius Caesar (known as the organizer of the city during Roman rule). In the second half of the 18th century, two additional lion statues with shields representing Seville and Spain were installed on the northern columns.

At the end of the 19th century, Alameda de Hercules served as a meeting place for the upper classes, with many elegant theaters and stalls. However, after the Civil War ^[3], it began to decline and became one of the poorest areas of Seville, whose problems were prostitution and drugs. According to 1989 data, there were up to 35 brothels in the district ^[4] .

The slow recovery of Alameda started at the beginning, then a public reconstruction funded by the city council completely renewed it in 2006-2008. Traffic was restricted; rows of stalls, benches and fountains were installed. The embankment was also reconstructed with the landing of many white poplars and southern frames ^[5] . Today, Alameda is one of the main centers of nightlife in Seville.

Despite the flood system built during the early transformation of the square during the 16th and 17th centuries, Alameda de Hercules remained one of the most flooded areas of the city until the second half of the 20th century. So, during the Great Plague of 1649, it was reported that Alameda was so flooded that people crossed it in boats ^[6] . Recently implemented changes in the riverbed system of the Guadalquivir River , as well as the installation of a huge underground tank to hold storm water, improved drainage and prevent new floods in the area.

In addition to the four columns on Alameda de Hercules, there are a number of attractions. On its western side is the House of Sirens , a 19th-century French palace. The chapel of Nuestra Senhora del Carmen y Cruz del Rodeo, located in the northern part of the square, served as an inspiration for the drama of José Sorrilla i Morale Don Juan Tenorio . So here was the monastery in which Dona Ines was imprisoned.

Also next to the square is the house in which the romantic writer Gustavo Adolfo Becker was born.

Alameda de Hercules is now known as the center of nightlife in Seville. The music that sounds here ranges from heavy metal or funk music to live flamenco music . In addition to disco pubs, on the promenade and around it there are numerous new cuisine restaurants, traditional restaurants, tapas bars, cafes and tea rooms in the Arabic style. Alameda is also the gay friendly quarter of Seville with gay pubs and discos.

• Léon Vela, José. La Alameda de Hércules y el centro urbano de Sevilla: hacia un reequilibrio del casco antiguo. - Seville: University of Seville, 2000 .-- ISBN 84-472-0584-3 .
• Albardonendo Freire, Antonio José. El urbanismo de Sevilla durante el reinado de Felipe II. - Seville: Guadalquivir, 2002. - P. 191–208.

• Ayuntamiento de Sevilla
• Columnas
• Conocer la alameda de hercules
• Website for Alameda de Hércules