The Hostel Sierpes is situated in the heart of the Santa Cruz area in Seville around a 6 minute walk to the Cathedral through the tiny lanes, but the first bit of advice is invest in a seriously good map as you are going to need it. This hostel COULD have so much going for it, so much potential on offer its like looking at a time past, and nothing like a good refurbishment to bring it back to its former glory.
As you walk in the reception is just to the right, with the breakfast room over on the left. All the rooms are on the first and second floors. The first floor is like a glass covered courtyard with the rooms all opening on to it and with a great lack of light for rooms at the rear. This courtyard effect does cause a small problem, in that every bit of noise, either doors closing or people talking, the sound just multiplies, so not the greatest point for relaxing. I stayed in a twin room but for single use, you would have to be very understanding with the person you were with if 2 people had to use this small room, but on the positive side the small bathroom was all new, otherwise the room was very basic.
The staff were all very friendly and helpful, but only a couple spoke a little English, then again you are in Spain. I would guess that this is an old family hostel that has been passed down over the years so it is very laid back. I stayed for 4 nights and that was 112 Euros with breakfast an extra 3.50 euros a day, it is a very basic breakfast but still cheaper then going to a café and enough to get you up and running for the day.
As I mentioned this place could do with a spruce up, the curtains in the dining room for example certainly need to come down and put in a washing machine, and some of the paint work needs to be sorted out along with some furniture. But all in all, for the price, this is fine for a short stay right in the heart of Seville, you just have to be a little understanding, so just keep on thinking how much more it would cost elsewhere in the old town.
I have attached a number of photographs of Seville and the inside of The Sierpes. If you fancy watching some Flamenco, just around the corner is the Museo del baile Flamenco which has nightly shows, each night varies, but I was very lucky in that Lucia Alvarez 'La Pinona' and Oscar de los Reyes were preforming and they were just MAGNIFCENT !! Also if you fancy some good cheap tapas do go to Bodega Santa Cruz “Las Columnas” just up from the front of the Cathedral on C/Rodrigo Caro but do go lunch time before all the tapas runs out.

If you have not been to Seville do go its a must see, but don't forget that map !

Enjoy !

Chris Leavy.
Solo Traveller with 3 credits in the Rough Guide Travel Books. (France, Turkey and China)

© All photographs copyright Chris Leavy.

The hostel is well located in the center of Sevilla. I believe we paid 35 euros per person begin of june. It is simple, clean and quite.

we visited seville during the time of the april fair. although we booked 2 months in advances, the prices had really shot up during that paid. we paid close to Eur80 for this hostel. Anything more than Eur40 for this hostel is a waste of money.

plus: really cheap breakfast at 3.8; very close to the cathedral and alcazar.
minus: no lifts, we stayed in the third floor. rooms and bathrooms were not that clean. the hostel was located in one of the inside streets, we really struggled to locate it.

i really liked the 2 dogs that stay here.

The Hostal is located 5 minutes far away by feet from the Cathedral and the Giralda. A great location in the city center, in a typical old style sevillian house, with a big patio. The room was simple, but clean. The only major minus point is that there is no acoustic isolation, in the room it is possible to hear all the noises from the street and the other rooms.