Royal Tobacco Factory - Seville

The papal bull of 1505 authorized the establishment of a school, university and its own chapel, where degrees in logic, philosophy, theology, canon law, civil law and the arts would be taught. In 1954, the University of Seville moved to the Royal Tobacco Factory building , a building dating from the 18th century.

The Royal Tobacco Factory was the headquarters of the first tobacco factory to be established in Europe. It is the most important industrial building in Spain from the 18th century. As a building it extends over a rectangular area of ​​185 x 147 meters , with slight protrusions in the corners. In Spain, only the Monastery of El Escorial, with an area of ​​207 x 162 meters, exceeds its size. The enclosure is surrounded on three sides by a moat that isolates it from the outside

In the building two different areas can be distinguished: a first area specifically dedicated to the production activity and which occupies two thirds of the building, and on the other side an area that can be called palatial and which corresponds to the entrance on San Fernando -street.

White marble fountains decorate the two interior patios. The entrance arch contains reliefs with themes relating to the history and production of tobacco.

Willem Vandenameele