When it comes to religion, Seville has a fascinating history. Catholicism is the dominant religion in Spain today, but large portions of the country, including Seville, were under Islamic rule for hundreds of years during the medieval period. You can still see this influence in the city’s famous architecture.
If you’re studying abroad in Seville, Spain, you’ll be living in a city with a rich and complex religious history. No matter your religious beliefs, we’ll help you find a place of worship and a community that works for you!
General Tips
Finding a place of worship in a new city can feel daunting, but it doesn’t need to. If you’re searching for a physical location to practice in, or just a community of like minded individuals, there are a few simple steps you can take to kick off your search. Below are a few general tips:
Define your criteria. What are you looking for in a place of worship? A physical space to attend worship services, or an active community where you can make friends and acquaintances? Being clear with your own criteria will help to make the search process easier.
Run a Google search. The same way you’d search for a cafe or bookstore, you can search for a particular place of worship. If there are a number of options in the city, you can even find a church, temple, mosque, or other worship site that’s convenient and close to you.
Join a Facebook group. Facebook groups can be a great way to find all sorts of communities when you’re studying abroad, and they’re just as helpful when it comes to finding religious communities. You’ll be able to find worship sites and groups that match your needs, and can determine which locations have active communities.
Visit the places of worship. As you’re exploring the city, feel free to drop into places of worship that you’re interested in. Often you’ll be able to learn more information there, check out an events calendar, learn about their typical scheduling, and more. You could even find some of this information by checking online in advance, though it’s always nice to meet people in person.
Try them out. If you’re interested in a few places of worship, consider trying out a service or event at each to determine where you feel most comfortable. If you’re primarily looking for a sense of community, this can be one of the best ways to find just that.
Talk to your Verto peers. Each Verto cohort is a diverse group of passionate and curious students, and you might have peers that are looking for the same places of worship as you. Alternatively, if you’re interested in checking out a place of worship but don’t want to go alone, feel free to ask one of your peers if they’re interested in learning more about your religion and invite them along!
Finally, don’t hesitate to talk to your Student Life Coordinator if you need help finding a place of worship. They’ll be happy to help with that and anything else that comes up during your semester abroad.
Churches
Churches are the standard place of worship of Christianity, and they won’t be difficult to find in Seville. Naturally, most churches will be Catholic, though other denominations are also represented in the city. Below, we’ve brought together some popular churches in Seville.
Iglesia de San Pedro
Located at Calle Doña María Coronel, 1, Iglesia de San Pedro is a stunning 14th-century church in the Gothic Mudejar style. There are a number of famous paintings inside as well. Although it’s a big tourist attraction, Iglesia de San Pedro is also a functioning Catholic church offering general services.
Photo Credit: TripAdvisor
Spanish Evangelical Church
One of the few evangelical churches in Seville, the Spanish Evangelical Church is located at Calle Baltasar Gracián, 16. Established in 1869 following the revolution of 1868 and a subsequent wave of religious tolerance, the church offers general services in a beautiful setting.
Photo Credit: TravelTriangle
Iglesia de Santa Ana
Located at Párroco don Eugenio, 1, the Iglesia de Santa Ana is a Roman Catholic church and a bit of a hidden gem. There are a number of impressive works of religious art inside, and the stained-glass windows are particularly gorgeous, and it still conducts regular services.
Photo Credit: TravelTriangle
Mosques
Mosques are the standard place of worship in Islam. There are several mosques in Seville that serve as popular centers of worship, and we’ve brought together a few of them below.
Mezquita Al-Hidaya
Located at Calle los Romeros, 26, in Seville, Mezquita Al-Hidaya, also known as Masjid al Hidaya, is the mosque of the Muslim community of Macarena, Seville. The mosque has been in operation since 1992, and it has one of the largest communities of worshippers in the city.
Fundación Mezquita de Sevilla
Located at Plaza Ponce de León, 9, in Seville, Fundación Mezquita de Sevilla is a popular mosque that hosts frequent events, workshops, lectures, and other activities, in addition to regular services
Photo Credit: BBC
Mezquita Ishbilia
Located on Calle Carlos Marx, Mezquita Ishbilia is a small but popular mosque offering prayer space in the Rochelambert neighborhood of Seville, right next to Parque Amate.
Synagogues
Synagogues are the standard place of worship in Judaism. There’s no set appearance for a synagogue, though typically the building will contain an ark, pews, and a raised platform where scriptural passages are read. Below, we’ve brought together a list of popular synagogues in Seville.
Beit Rambam, Comunidad Progresista de Andalucía
Beit Rambam was founded in 2013 to serve the needs of Seville’s Jewish population. A progressive synagogue, Beit Rambam embraces the diversity of contemporary Jewish identity. Its services are open to all Jews, both residents and temporary visitors in Andalusia.
Photo Credit: Beitrambam.es
Comunidad Israelita de Sevilla
Located at Calle Bustos Tavera 8, Comunidad Israelita de Sevilla has been in existence since the 1960s and practices an older and more Orthodox version of Judaism. The two wings often collaborate, however, and host communal events together.
Temples
Temples are the standard place of worship in Buddhism. The physical layout of Buddhist temples can vary widely depending on the country of origin, though all Buddhist temples will have an image or a statue of Buddha that visitors will face while worshiping. Below, we’ve brought together a few popular Buddhist temples in Seville, Spain.
Centro Budista Chakrasamvara
Located at Calle Senserina, 43 in Seville, Centro Budista Chakrasamvara offers a number of teaching and guided meditation sessions, in addition to general temple services.
Photo Credit: TodoDeSevilla.es
Budista Camino del Diamante
Located at Plaza Doctor González Gramage, 7, Budista Camino del Diamante offers guided meditation sessions in an intimate setting, as well as introductory lessons for those interested in learning more about the practice.
Mahamudra Buddhist Center
Located at Calle Castilla, 93, Mahamudra Buddhist Center is one of the larger meditation centers in the city, and it offers a wide variety of lessons, readings, workshops, and other activities to worshippers.
Mandirs
Mandirs are the standard place of worship in Hinduism. Mandirs typically feature a main prayer hall, or mandapa, and a central shrine known as a garbhagriha. Hindus don’t attend regular services in Mandirs but use them for individual worship or social events.
Unfortunately, Seville doesn’t have any mandirs. Spain has a very small Hindu population, which can sometimes make locating a temple difficult. However, there are several mandirs spread across the country, including the Gibraltar Hindu Temple in Gibraltar, Templo Hindu in Málaga, and Jhulelal Mandir in Madrid. Since Seville is a diverse and dynamic city, it can still be worthwhile to run a Google search or look for community-focused groups on Facebook or sites like InterNations — you never know when something new might pop up.
No matter your religious affiliation, you’ll find Seville to be a welcoming and affirming environment to worship in, with plenty of great options. At Verto, we’re excited to have students of all faiths in our semester-abroad programs, and don’t forget that your Student Life Coordinators will always be great resources if you need support in finding a place of worship — or anything else.
