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Latin American World’s
Fair Exhibition of 1929
The Latin American World’s Fair Exhibition of 1929 and
the works built for this event, profoundly transformed Seville
during the first quarter of the 20th C.
The Fair’s preliminary design contest held in 1911 was
awarded to Sevillian architect, Anibal González, architect
of the Plaza de America and the three surrounding pavilions
built between 1911 and 1919 – Mudejar (Moorish influence)
– Renaissance and Royal – today the seat of the
Museo de Artes y Costumbres Populares (Museum of Arts and
Popular Customs), the Museo Arqueológico (Archaeological
Museum) and Municipally buildings respectively. However the
Plaza de España was this architect’s masterpiece,
a structure built between 1914 and 1928. Just along side stands
the Pabellón de la Telefónica (Pavilion built
by Juan Talavera) and in the Prado de San Sebastián,
the Pabellón de Portugal (Portugal Pavilion by Revello
de Andrade).
From Expo '92 to Cartuja '93
The Universal Exhibition of Seville of 1992 (Expo ’92),
sprung forth from an initiative of His Majesty the King Juan
Carlos, who launched the idea during a historic speech given
in Santo Domingo in 1976. His pledge was to hold a major Exposition
in Spain, on the occasion of the V Century of the Discovery
of America. The objective was to foster “dialogue amongst
peoples and cultural exchange, as a means of understanding
and solidarity”. Seville with its Port, the Puerta de
Indias, represented during two centuries Spain’s greatest
splendour was a huge space, in the past a place of prayer
and refuge, strategically located between two arms of the
River adjacent to the old town. This proved to be the perfect
site.
The Expo proved to be a stimulus for the city, a decisive
impulse of social and economic development, providing 21st
C infrastructures for the region, aside from hosting this
prestigious event. Expo ’92 represented Spain’s
new democratic image to the world; modern and plural. The
remodelling of the city included a new network of roads, roundabouts
and avenues, some 70 km within the city alone, as well as
six new bridges built over the Guadalquivir, all of them examples
of the latest in engineering.
From April 20th until October 12th, Seville more than ever
became a Universal City: 111 participating nations –
the largest number in the history of World Fairs-, with representative
present from the main International Organizations such as
the United Nations, the International Olympic Committee, the
European Union, etc., as well as the most important multinational
companies, not to mention the assistance of all of Spain’s
Autonomous Regions. During the 176 days in which the event
lasted, the public responded consistently with great enthusiasm.
Today, scenic and exceptional locations such as El Palenque,
a grand bio-climatic plaza with a capacity of 1500 spectators,
the Auditorio, the largest open air auditorium in Europe (seating
4000), or the Teatro Central (Theatre), unique in all of Spain,
built to host the latest tendencies in staged event, are all
being fully enjoyed.
The opening in 1997 of Parque Temático Isla Mágica,
a theme park situated on the Lago de España (Spanish
Lake), was converted into a first class tourist destination.
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