Within the broader category of Renaissance architecture, two styles really shine in Sevilla. The first, called plateresque, incorporates Renaissance, Gothic, and Mudéjar motiffs into one intensely decorated style. A great place to really see the plateresque in all its glory is the Ayuntamiento (city hall), where it's hard to find a free square inch between the sculptures, busts, and complex floral designs that cover building's façade.

Escorialense is the second Renaissance style with a big – literally - presence in Sevilla. Called Escorialense after Spain's largest building the Escorial, it's a style marked by huge proportions, severe austerity, and a "back to the basics" approach using clean forms and little decoration. The two buildings in Spain that most celebrate this imposing style are the Archivo de Indias and the former Fábrica de Tabacos, which is now the University.