Plaza de los Curtidores

Plaza de los Curtidores is a small, quiet square tucked into the tangled lanes of Seville's former Jewish quarter, within what is today the historic San Bartolomé district. It rarely appears on tourist maps, yet it is a good example of how the old core of Seville keeps surprising visitors even in its least-advertised corners.

Where does the name come from?

The name refers to a trade: curtidores means tanners in Spanish, the craftsmen who processed animal hides into leather. A description from 1839 notes that a hide-tanning workshop had operated on this spot since ancient times, and the square's name is a direct nod to that local trade. This is a common pattern in Seville, where many street and square names still preserve traces of the guilds and professions once practiced in each neighborhood.

Where exactly is the square, and how do you get there?

Plaza de los Curtidores sits within the parish of San Bartolomé, in the heart of the old Alhamia — the Jewish quarter of medieval Seville. Access runs through Callejón Nardo and the streets Verde, Cano, Cueto, Juan Hispalense and Juan de la Cueva, a maze of narrow, winding lanes typical of this part of the city. It's roughly a 10-minute walk from Seville Cathedral and the Giralda tower, making it easy to fold into a stroll through the Old Town.

What's worth knowing about the surrounding area?

The square once stood close to the old city walls, near the former Puerta de la Carne (Meat Gate), one of Seville's historic gates, demolished in 1864. For centuries this gate served as the only external exit from the Judería, and it carried several names across different periods: Bab Yahwar (Gate of the Pearls) under Almohad rule, later Puerta de la Judería, before finally taking the name tied to a slaughterhouse built just outside the walls under the Catholic Monarchs. That proximity to the city gate explains why tanning workshops settled precisely here — close to the edge of town, away from the center, where the strong smell of hide-processing wouldn't bother residents living closer in.

Why stop here?

Plaza de los Curtidores appeals to travelers who enjoy exploring Seville off the main tourist track. There are no grand monuments or crowds here — instead, an intimate atmosphere from the old Jewish quarter, narrow streets, whitewashed façades, and a sense that time moves a little slower in this corner of the city. It makes a natural stop while walking through the Barrio de Santa Cruz and San Bartolomé, helping visitors piece together Seville's layered history — from the medieval Judería, through the Reconquista era, to the present day.

Frequently asked questions

Is Plaza de los Curtidores a major tourist square? No — it's a small, local-character square rather than a grand or monumental one.

Where does the square's name come from? From the curtidores, or tanners, since a hide-tanning workshop had operated here since ancient times.

How far is it from Seville Cathedral? It's about a 10-minute walk to the Cathedral and the Giralda, making the square an easy addition to an Old Town walking route.

What used to stand near the square? It bordered the old city walls and the former Puerta de la Carne, a historic gate of Seville demolished in 1864 that once served as the only external exit from the Jewish quarter.