Santa Cruz is Seville's old Jewish quarter, a postcard-perfect maze of narrow lanes, whitewashed walls draped in bougainvillea, and tiny plazas with bubbling fountains. The neighbourhood sits directly beside the Cathedral and Giralda tower, making it the first area most visitors explore, and the density of orange trees, wrought-iron balconies, and flower-filled patios makes it hard to resist. Plaza de los Venerables is a quiet centrepiece, home to a baroque church now housing a Velazquez museum. The streets are deliberately labyrinthine, designed centuries ago to provide shade and confuse invaders, which means getting pleasantly lost is inevitable. It is unashamedly touristy, with prices to match, but the beauty is genuine and an evening stroll when the day-trippers have left reveals real charm.