The Barrio de Santa Cruz, Seville’s former Jewish quarter, is closely linked to one of the city’s most famous literary characters: Don Juan Tenorio. According to tradition, he is believed to have been born in the area around Plaza de los Venerables, right in the heart of this historic neighborhood.
Don Juan Tenorio is the legendary seducer whose story has been told and retold by many authors over the centuries. His first literary appearance dates back to 1620, in the play El burlador de Sevilla (The Trickster of Seville), attributed to Tirso de Molina. From that moment on, Don Juan became one of the most iconic figures in Spanish literature.
The character is portrayed as a fearless womanizer, known for seducing women and challenging their male relatives. One of the most famous episodes of the legend takes place in a graveyard, where Don Juan encounters the statue of Don Gonzalo, the deceased father of Doña Ana de Ulloa, one of his conquests. In a bold act of mockery, Don Juan invites the statue to dine with him—and to his surprise, the stone figure accepts.
Later, the statue returns the invitation, summoning Don Juan to dinner at the graveyard. When Don Juan accepts and reaches out to shake hands, the statue grips him tightly and drags him down to hell, sealing his tragic fate. This dramatic ending has become one of the most powerful moral lessons in Spanish literary tradition.
Today, visitors can still connect with this legend in Plaza de los Refinadores, where a graceful sculpture of Don Juan Tenorio stands as a tribute to the character and his enduring connection to Seville. It is a popular stop on literary and historical walking tours through the city.