Seville World Expo

The biosphere from Expo 92, which sprayed micro-fine jets of water to cool the area.

Seville has hosted two Exposiciones Universales (known as Expos for short), where countries from around the world built pavilions to show the best of their industry, tecnnology and culture: the first in 1929 – Expo 29; and the second in 1992, Expo 92 (note the numerical inversion).

1992 was a big year for Spain, as Barcelona hosted the Olympics, and Madrid was European Cultural Capital.

Both of Seville's Expos were intended to promote the city and encourage tourism, while displaying the city’s industrial and (multi-)cultural heritage.

The theme of Expo 92 was “The Age of Discovery”, since it celebrated the 500th anniversary of Columbus’ first voyage in 1492 and the beginning of Seville’s era of great wealth thanks to gold and other precious trading goods brought back by ships from the New World.

The total number of visitors to Expo 92 was 42 million (this includes multiple visits; the Expo was a popular venue for night-time events such as concerts), and while it was deemed a huge success, the event cost €9.3 billion and left the city mired in debt and controversy for decades.

When and where was it held?

Expo 92 lasted for six months: from 20 April to 21 October 1992. This Expo was held in and around the Isla Cartuja, which was completely redeveloped for the event – a new city was built from scratch. La Cartuja monastery itself, where Columbus stayed when planning his voyages, was restored and housed the Pabellon Real, the Expo’s headquarters (it is now a contemporary art museum).

WHOSE IDEA WAS IT?

The exhibition was conceived by the then-Spanish president, Felipe Gonzalez, who was himself from Seville. Gonzalez wanted to transform the whole region of Andalucia from a forgotten southern backwater, and bring it into the modern age. This ambitious plan, which cost €7.8 billion, included a new airport and railway station for the city, with high-speed AVE trains linking Seville with Madrid, and five bridges (see below); some of the region’s first motorways were also built. Expo 92 was also an opportunity to clean up the seedier parts of the city, including the Alameda (see Grupo 7, below).

During the six months of the Expo, daily concerts were held, featuring top classical and pop names such as the 25 Legendary Guitarists including BB King, Paco de Lucia, Brian May and Bo Diddley. Other major attractions included art displays of the nations’ finest painters, an Omnimax theatre showing IMAX films, and the Sony Plaza with its gigantic screens.