When I first saw one of the famed orange trees I was so excited! I was a bit disappointed to learn that the fruit would not turn orange until April, which is to say several months after I am due to leave Seville; however, the trees themselves really enhance the environment, despite the lack of orange color! There are also tons of wonderful shops and products based on the beautiful oranges! I've seen some cool plates, tiles and different types of orange candies that feature the fruit. Now, I directly associate oranges with Seville!
The orange trees are found everywhere and have a very interesting history! Going back to ancient times, the orange trees were used for medicine and cosmetics, and were quickly dubbed the "bitter" orange, or eventually, the renowned Seville Orange. The orange, here, was not grown to be eaten and became instead a decoration during the Arab rule in Southern Spain. Some people say that some of the oldest orange trees in Seville are more than 600 years old.
The trees do mostly grow well due to the sunny and warm environment that is normal in Southern Spain. They do need frequent watering, but while Spain was experiencing a drought, lately, it has been raining very hard, making up for the lack of water in the past summer months. The trees are also cut and maintained by the city government. These national treasures live healthy, full and long lives in Seville!
