I have my Fodor's guidebook, but is there any advise a fabulous place to stay, meals and flamenco in Seville?

Also, as someone mentioned to me in a different thread, the Feria de Abril might still be going on during my visit, May 5 and 6. What should we enjoy during this festival?

Thanks!

It appears that the Feria has now been set for the 3rd to 8th of May:

http://feriadesevilla.andalunet.com/calendario.htm

If you don't already have lodging, you should book ASAP. According to Venere.com, El Rey Moro (rated # 3 on Tripadvisor, and a lovely Moorish style hotel) is still available for the nights of May 5 and 6.

A cut and paste from one of my recent postings:

The atmosphere and the people would be the main attractions apart from obvious sights such as the Alcázar, the Cathedral with the Giralda, the Torre del Oro, the old tobacco factory (Carmen), the Archivo de las Indias, the excavated Roman city Itálica, the Fine Arts Museum, the churces, the convents, the gardens etc.

Sevilla has got one of the finest tapas scenes in Spain. Rinconcillo is the oldest bar/restaurant in the country, dating from 1670: http://www.elrinconcillo.es/
Eslava is one of my favourites:
http://azahar-sevilla.com/sevilletapas/category/eslava/
And close by you also find absolutely excellent Bodega Dos de Mayo and Restaurante Az-Zait:
http://azahar-sevilla.com/sevilletap...omment-page-1/
http://www.az-zaitrestaurantes.com/

Try some places outside the most touristy area in the Santa Cruz district. Lots of great places in the Arenal area, the San Lorenzo area and in Triana, the former Gypsy (and flamenco) quarter across the river Guadalquivir. Very informed suggestions on this site: http://azahar-sevilla.com/sevilletapas/

Great nightlife around the Alameda de Hércules, in the Arenal district and in Triana. I gave you some suggestions on flamenco on your other thread. If you want to be really serious about flamenco, go late at night to the bar El Mantoncillo in Alfarería, 104 (Triana). Here anything can happen.

Wind down at the Arab bath-house, Aire de Sevilla. A friend went five days in a week...
http://www.airedesevilla.com/

Apart from all the "normal" sights in Sevilla, I will also suggest you go and see the "Hospital de la Caridad", it might give you the ultimate Sevilla experience. The 17th century repenting founder Miguel Mañara was - according to himself - "the most evil man that ever lived". All the paintings he commisioned from some of the most famous golden-age arists for the hospital and it's adjoining church dealt with the theme of death and redemption. The hospital, the church, the paintings and Mañara's grave are all in Calle Temprado, 3.
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/spain/seville/sights/411842

This is a very well informed and up to date guide on Sevilla, a special section on the Feria with lots of suggestions and tips:
http://www.exploreseville.com/
http://www.exploreseville.com/events/feriadeabril.htm

If it is still in operation I highly recommend dining at Casa Baratillo/Casa Chari in the Arenal district for a wonderfully authentic and CHEAP paella meal (when I ate there your choice of wine, beer, or sangria also came with it).

Triana is where I lived and is a great, fascinating neighborhood including a lot of neat food related shops. If you walk along the Guadalquivir on the Triana side you're awarded with terrific views of the Sevillano skyline.

I liked the flamenco performance I saw at Casa de la Memoria (I also attended a Sefardi music concert there too which was so cool). Many people say it's bad, touristy, but I was quite impressed with it. I also enjoyed flamenco performances at La Carboneria which is somewhat of a hard to find spot in the Barrio de Santa Cruz.

Wander around the historic quarters and enjoy the terrific ambiance!

traveltalesfromtheredheadedtraveler.blogspot.com/
(My travel writing blog!)

Casa de la Memória is popular with tourists, but it's definitely the real deal. Pastora Galván have danced here once a week for a long time. She made her definitive breakthrough as one of the absolute finest bailaoras of our time during the last Bienal de flamenco in Sevilla (the world's largest and most prestigious flamenco festival) . Also many other great talents, not only dancers but also singers and guitarists. The program is updated here:
http://www.casadelamemoria.es/eventos.htm

Galván usually does more traditional things in Casa de la Memória. But here she is in housedress and knee-socks, dancing a modernistic tribute to how the older women dance in the Andalusian patios. From Teatro Lope de Vega during the Bienal:
http://www.flamencotv.es/es/componen...e-pastora.html