SPECIAL PROMOTION Noteworthy What to have. Where to go. Grand Seiko Evolution 9 Collection “SLGC001”Tentagraph The Tentagraph, an automatic high-beat chronograph, is the first watch of its kind from Grand Seiko. Powered by the new Calibre 9SC5, which uses the Calibre 9SA5 as its base, it is emblematic of the next generation of Grand Seiko sports watches, both for its technological innovation and its equally stunning Evolution 9 Style. grand-seiko.com/au-en/collections/slgc001g Regent Seven Seas Cruises ® For over 30 years, Regent Seven Seas Cruises' luxurious sixship fleet has sailed to more than 500 iconic and immersive destinations around the world. The Regent Experience has long been absolute in its inclusiveness, providing you with the most enriching and luxurious journey on the Seven Seas. Experience a symphonic exploration of culinary pleasures alongside the unrivalled space and unmatched, personalised service found only aboard The World’s Most Luxurious Fleet . RSSC.com The Exvotos (theexvotos.com), a design duo who have been making ceramics inspired by ex-voto offerings for more than 20 years. With backgrounds in religious art – modelling, painting and dressing sacred statues– Galán and Maldonado are bringing their skills to new audiences through collections of highly desirable ceramics. “We consider ourselves artists rather than artisans,” says Galán. “Artisanship often involves repeating the same object, but our finished products will never be the same. We are artists who value artisanship to bring our creations to life.” Every piece – from the Cabeza Recipiente sculpted heads to candleholders, plates and more – is made by hand in a process the pair calls “slow work”. Galán and Maldonado switch between sculpting and painting duties, with everything made to order from a selection of around 40 designs. The waiting time from order to delivery can exceed 100 days, but it doesn’t put off customers keen to own an original Exvotos creation. “We do everything ourselves, with our own hands,” says Maldonado. “We’re not going to industrialise or take on staff. We like to dedicate time to each client, and we’re going to continue doing what we like to do, rather than focus on growing a business.” One Seville-based artisanal business that has grown considerably is hatmaker Fernández y Roche (fernandezyroche.com). Founded in 1885, the company used to be a neighbour of The Exvotos and Hilando el Tiempo but moved to a new home on the outskirts of the city when more space was needed to keep up with production demand. The company thrived at the beginning of the 20th century before grappling with the era of sinsombrerismo (nohat-ism) a few decades later, when wearing hats became unfashionable around the world. But Fernández y Roche survived – and grew stronger – thanks largely to the demand for high-quality hats from Jewish customers in the US and Israel. Of the 100,000 hats produced annually by the company, around half are destined for these communities. While the production facility may be larger and more streamlined today, manual artisanal processes – steaming, cutting, shaping – still drive production on the factory floor. There’s a buzz of activity, punctuated by the hiss of steam as hats are shaped and the hum of sewing machines as brims are stitched. Fernández y Roche’s products include fedoras, Panamas and wide-brimmed Sevillian hats, but there are also 72 CENTURION-MAGAZINE.COM
The convivial scene at Feria de Abril PHOTO BEN SCHOTT a few surprises on the shelves, including the maroon oryx hats worn by Qatar Airways flight attendants, and the instantly recognisable hat worn by Indiana Jones. It’s this sort of global reach that is coming for Castilblanco de los Arroyos, where Javier Menacho (@javier.menacho) has had to expand his team to include three apprentices. “I don’t want to bring machinery into my workshop because what we do is purely artisanal. I can’t compete with a big company, and I’m not interested in making large quantities. But I do want to give my customers the shortest possible waiting time, and exclusivity,” he says. It takes ten hours to craft a handmade belt, and up to 80 hours for a bag, depending on its complexity. Menacho’s commitment to his craft is emblematic of his fellow artisans in Seville. “For me, being an artisan is a way of life, it’s a seal of identity and culture, it’s everything,” he says. “I want to show people the real value of artisanal craft and to make sure we don’t lose it because once lost, it’s gone forever.” It’s a sentiment shared across many of Seville’s workshops and ateliers. “I think we’re in the middle of an artisanal renaissance right now,” says Menacho about his fellow Sevillians. “We are the caretakers of 21stcentury craftsmanship.” Where to Stay The new Nobu Hotel (nobuhotels. com), just opened on the Plaza de San Francisco, has one of the best locations in the city, right in the historical heart and within a few minutes’ walk of practically everything. Housed in two restored early-20th-century residences, the 25 rooms and suites are cool, calming and clutter-free, and the rooftop terraces are home to a bar and a bijou pool, perfect for a quick dip on a hot summer day. Another new arrival, Casa Palacio Don Ramón’s interiors (hoteldonramon.com) take their cues from different periods of Seville’s history, with pebbled floors, water features and bursts of colour, as well as peaceful tile-clad internal courtyards. Room designs feature Arabic, Mozarabic or New World elements, from Islamic geometric wall panels to references to traditional pottery and art. Over in Triana, on the other side of the river, the sevenroom Triana House (trianahouse. com) opts for a more-is-more aesthetic featuring bold colours, layered patterns and rich textures. It also places a focus on energy efficiency, with rooftop solar panels and underfloor cooling systems. In a narrow street in the San Lorenzo neighbourhood, the Pájaro Rebelde (elpajaro rebelde.com) has the feel of a Moroccan riad, with seven individually designed rooms, a bougainvillaea-filled central garden, and original design features like stained glass and antique tiles. The French owners have brought their own sense of style to this restored 19th-century casa boutique, filling it with intriguing art, and even managing to squeeze a swimming pool in. Where to Dine Seville is full of tapas bars and restaurants, perfect for grazing your way around the city. Deservedly popular Eslava’s handful of streetside tables (espacioeslava.com) is usually full but very much worth the wait. The traditional-meetsmodern tapas here include tiny fried-to-perfection squid and a heartbreakingly good egg yolk on a boletus mushroom cream with caramelised wine. At La Quinta ( @laquinta sevilla), the big pans of paellastyle rice, woodfired meats and Andalusian sharables hit all the right notes. The sunny central patio is in high demand on warm days, but the indoor dining rooms in this elegant heritage house also have their own allure. Eneko Basque (enekoatxaseville. com) brings a taste of northern Spain to Seville courtesy of chef Eneko Atxa of three-Michelinstarred Azurmendi fame. Tasting menus feature dishes like anchovy macarons and marinated scallops with marine granita, and are surprisingly affordable. Over at the Taberna del Alabardero (alabarderosevilla.es), the presentation and flavours of the cuisine, the friendly enthusiasm of the service, and the elegant interiors are what you’d expect of one of Seville’s most sophisticated dining establishments. But this is also – unexpectedly – a hospitality training school. At the end of the Triana Bridge, spanning the River Guadalquivir, the terraces of Mariatrifulca (mariatrifulca.com) are perfect for lingering over long evenings with a glass of something cold and crisp before diving into the seafood-focused menu. Prices on the terrace are 10 per cent higher than in the cosy stone-walled dining rooms, but it would be churlish to dispute it – the people-watching alone is worth the surcharge. At La Terraza del EME (laterrazadeleme.com), late-night cocktails come paired with eye-popping views of the illuminated cathedral and La Giralda, once a minaret but now the belltower, a much-loved symbol of the city. CENTURION-MAGAZINE.COM 73
