Royal Tobacco Factory

The Royal Tobacco Factory of Seville (Real Fábrica de Tabacos de Sevilla) was the building that housed the first tobacco factory in Europe. It was built in the eighteenth century. Completely monopolising the trade with America, it is no coincidence that the factory was located in this Andalusian city. Since the demand for tobacco was getting bigger, workers (mostly women, calls cigarreras) worked piecework and under very unfavourable conditions.

It was declared Cultural Heritage Asset in 1959 and became, since the mid-twentieth century, headquarters of the Chancellory of the University of Seville and the faculties of Philosophy and Letters, Science and Law.

As a curiosity, you should know that there were so many employees that the factory even had its own guard and dungeons. Today these cells are the offices of the professors. In addition, a moat surrounding almost entirely the building was built as a security measure.

The Royal Tobacco Factory is very close to other tourist attractions, such as the Alcazar of Seville, the Seville Cathedral, the San Telmo Palace or the Torre del Oro. Both for its historical value and its architectural value, the Royal Tobacco Factory is a must if you visit the city. If you would like to know every detail and secret of this building, the University of Seville offers free tours that you should not miss.

Find the best places of interest and the most important cultural tours of Seville we have chosen for you on TUDESTINO.