Camara Oscura (Torre de los Perdigones)

The basics

The tower’s most unusual landmark is its camera obscura (cámara oscura), one of the few of its kind in the world. Consisting of a reflection of the city projected through a narrow opening onto a blank surface, the optical illusion shows angles of the city in motion and can be rotated. It’s worth going out of your way to experience this rarity—but even if you can’t visit during the tower’s opening hours, you can admire the tower from the adjacent Perdigones Park (Parque de los Perdigones).

Things to know before you go

• Tickets to the Perdigones Tower can be purchased for a small fee.

• Only 10 people are allowed in the tower at a time—prepare to wait (and potentially avoid it if you suffer from a fear of heights or claustrophobia).

• You can access the top of the tower by elevator, making it more accessible for those with limited mobility.

How to get there

The Perdigones Tower is in Seville’s formerly industrial San Gil neighborhood, north of the city center and a few moments on foot from the Barqueta Bridge over the Guadalquivir River. To get there from the city center, use local bus lines 3, 13, and 14; alternatively, taxi and rideshare services are even quicker and simpler.

When to get there

The Perdigones Tower is open every day except Monday and Tuesday. It has limited opening hours, typically from morning until early afternoon. For your best chance of visiting (and to avoid any lines, especially during the summer high season), arrive early; you’ll also want to choose a good-weather day to take advantage of its city views.

Where to get the best views of Seville

For another aerial perspective of Seville, it’s hard to do better than La Giralda. One of the city’s best-known landmarks, the UNESCO-listed tower is all that remains of the former Great Mosque—and was the tallest structure here for more than 800 years. The fact that it’s located right in the center of town—just moments from other highlights like the Seville Cathedral and Alcázar—means you’ll be rewarded with an entirely different view.