The Porvenir Times
October 2026 edition
Welcome Week, cultural visits, our first semester trip, student reflections, and more from the start of our Fall semester in Seville.
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October 2026 · Text edition
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The Porvenir Times
International College of Seville Newsletter
October 2026 Edition
In this month’s Issue:
Welcome Week
Read all about the activities that our Fall students enjoyed during their first week in town.
First Cultural Trip
See the details of the first cultural day trip of the semester.
Student Corner
Don’t miss our first two blogs of the semester, by Melissa Cala and Ava McKinney of Broward College.
To view all of our student blogs, visit: ics-seville.org/blogs.
Upcoming News
Find out what’s new and coming this month of October.
Welcome Week
We began the month with a bang!
For our first morning walk through Seville we met with our group at the College. We walked through the María Luisa park, the University of Seville and then along the river over to the historic neighborhood of Triana. There we enjoyed a delicious typical Andalusian breakfast in the always pleasant Café Mundial!
The ICS Fall semester has begun and we look forward to a great term!
Discovering Downtown
Traditionally, Saturday is shopping day in Spain. Where better to visit than the city’s bustling commercial district, stop at the largest wooden structure in the world, Las Setas, and have some of the best churros con chocolate of all of Seville?! In the evening, we saw a fabulous Flamenco performance at El Museo del Baile Flamenco!
River Cruise
Along the Guadalquivir
What a pleasant morning we had cruising along the river onboard a private luxury boat with music, refreshments and lots of laughs.
Cultural Visits
Touring a City Rich in History
Guided tour by Professor Duda Popovic.
Itálica
Itálica, founded in 206 a.C. and birthplace of emperors Trajan and Hadrian, was one of the first Roman settlements in Spain. Its remarkable mosaics, impressive amphitheater, and archaeological remains showcase life during the Roman Empire.
First Day Trip of the Semester
Jerez de la Frontera
We visited the Cayetano del Pino cellars and learned about Sherry wine production and distribution.
Baelo Claudia & Bolonia Beach
After visiting the Roman ruins, we spent the day at one of Europe’s most beautiful beaches.
ICS Social Media Team
Shannon Reed
Shannon is a Senior at the University of Hawaii at Manoa studying Psychology and minoring in Political Science and Spanish.
Fiona Barinek
Fiona is a Junior at the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa studying International Business and Marketing with a minor in Psychology.
Alekssandra Gonzalez
Ale is a Senior at the Fashion Institute of Technology studying Advertising and Marketing Communications.
Student Corner: Melissa Cala (Broward College)
A Visible Community
A big part of culture is connection to history, especially in a way that is clearly visible. In the United States, there are structures like the Statue of Liberty, which serve as a sort of anchor for the philosophical concept of America: “give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free”. However, I’m from Florida. I would have to get on a plane and travel to see that monument, given the sheer size of the United States. Here in Seville, I have had an entirely different experience with a connection to history through architecture and through beauty.
Every day as I’m walking to class through the gorgeous María Luisa Park, I pass by the Plaza de España and I’m aware of how many generations have stepped exactly where I am stepping since it was built in 1928 for that year’s World Fair. One morning, I decided to explore the building on my own to take it in without the crowds of tourists that understandably flock to it. The architectural style of the building feels uniquely Spanish, with a stunning mixture of Seville’s iconic ceramic tiles
Student Corner: Melissa Cala (Broward College)
A Visible Community. Part II
with Neo-Mudéjar patterns alongside Renaissance Revival pillars and paintings of cherubs and horses. The center of the Plaza also contains little alcoves dedicated to the different parts of Spain, aptly titled Alcoves of the Provinces, where I could comfortably sit and watch the city slowly come to life around me. Each alcove also contains little covered bookshelves, which I later learned some visitors use as charming anonymous free book exchanges similar to the non-profit “Little Free Library”.
Last week, I had the pleasure of taking a guided tour of the rooftops of Seville Cathedral, which left me genuinely awestruck at multiple points. The beauty and the majesty of the structure moved me deeply. It was originally a mosque in the 12 th and 13 th centuries during the Ottoman reign of the Iberian Peninsula but was then converted into the largest gothic cathedral in the world after the city was reconquered. Parts of the original structure remain as a constant visible reminder of that history, most notably the Giralda tower. The cathedral isn’t just a historical monument, though. They have mass every morning, where you can listen to organs which were rebuilt over a century ago following an earthquake in the year 1888. It’s hard not to think of the many generations of people who have found peace and belonging within those very walls the moment youstep inside and gaze up at the colorful stained-glass windows.
There’s a level of empathy and awareness of your fellow human that comes with this ever-present tie to the history of Seville and of Spain as a whole. The number of pedestrians here make it nearly impossible to forget that you are part of a collective and to feel a deep responsibility and connection to the people next to you in a way that is very different from the culture in the United States, which is a mere 250 years old and where most people choose to drive.
Student Corner: Ava McKinney (Broward College)
Our First Steps Into Spanish Life
September brought new faces, new beginnings, and our first glimpse of the beauty of Sevilla. During our introduction week, we joined Lisa for a walk through Plaza de España, where each turn gave us something new to admire.
From the beautiful architecture to the boats gliding along the water, there was plenty to catch our attention—and our cameras! As Lisa helped us learn about our surroundings, sightseeing became an opportunity to connect what we were learning with the city unfolding before us.
We wandered along beautiful pathways, paused to appreciate the nature around us, and watched familiar views change as we explored from different angles. Between conversations with classmates and moments spent taking it all in, we began to feel a little more at home.
We wandered along beautiful pathways, paused to appreciate the nature around us, and watched familiar views change as we explored from different angles. Between conversations with classmates and moments spent taking it all in, we began to feel a little more at home.
As September came to a close, those first walks remained a lovely part of our introduction to Sevilla: a chance to be curious, immerse ourselves in the culture, and discover how much we could learn simply by slowing down and looking around.
It was truly magical—a wonderful way to begin our first week in Seville, surrounded by beautiful sights, new friendships, and the excitement of everything still to come.
Upcoming at the ICS
Cultural Visits
During this month we will visit Seville’s Alcázar palace.
Trips
We will make our three-day tour through North Africa and overnight trip to Granada.
Activities
And… our students will learn how to make Spain’s most iconic dish: Paella Mixta!
Follow us to stay updated and visit our website to learn more about our programs!
c/ Porvenir, 15 , 41013 Seville , Spain
Phone: (+34) 95-423-3838
Email: info@ics-seville.org