This magnificent park owes its name to Princess María Luisa de Orleans who loved Seville and donated the gardens from her Palacio de San Telmo in 1893. She donated more than 

40 000 square metres, which later were expanded through the donation of other lands. Major work was done as part of the Ibero-American Exposition in 1929. The Plaza de España and Plaza de América were the works of Aníbal Gonzalez.

Frenchman Jean-Claude Forestier, director of Bois de Bologne in Paris, was in charge of designing this park and was given complete freedom to turn this large piece of land into an urban area. The engineer rearranged the land at different levels of depth and perspective, within a space that had once been totally flat. He decided to make use of the elements, like water, creating a multitude of artificial lakes and fountains. He was magnificently skilled mixing a variety of styles.

Acacias, elms, laurels, rose gardens, orange trees, eucalyptus... You will find that the Parque de María Luisa is home to a wide variety of trees, quite lush in some areas and open in others, as well as multiple avenues and arbours. With so much to offer, it is clear that no one should visit Seville without taking a pleasant, tranquil stroll through this park. 

Some of the park’s must-see spots include the Isleta de los Patos [Duck Island], which you will find in the centre, and is, as its name implies, surrounded by a lake filled with swans and ducks. Nearby is the Fuente de los Leones, inspired by the Patio de los Leones from the Alhambra in Granada. Additionally, at one end of the gardens are two small but interesting arbours: La Infanta, which has a bronze statue of María Luisa de Orleans, and Glorieta de Bécquer, with different allegorical figures of love in homage to the Sevillian poet, a work by Lorenzo Coullaut from 1911.

What’s more, there are also two great buildings erected as pavilions for the 1929 Ibero-American Exposition, created by Aníbal González. And in the Plaza de América you will find the city’s two most important museums: the mudejar-styled Museo de Artes y Costumbres Populares and the neo-renaissance-styled Museo Arqueológico. 

Aníbal González captured all of the combined Sevillian art, such as grille work, ceramics and sculpture, masterfully combining styles. 

This Plaza de América actually has a special feature: its doves, which normally gather in the area, creating a large white carpet. This is why the park is also generally known by the alternative name, "dove park". 

Seville is blessed with one of the loveliest and best designed parks in Spain. The only thing missing is for you to enjoy it. Take it in by going for a walk or passing through in a horse-drawn carriage.