Kansas City is anything but an only child. What with 12 sister cities around the world (and more on the way), we figured it was time for a family reunion of sorts, starting with our oldest sibling: Seville, Spain.

Hey, soul sister (city)

Also known as twin cities or friendship cities, a sister city partnership is an agreement to promote lasting cultural ties. The idea is to form a fellowship that encourages trade, tourism, and even cultural exchanges + projects.

One difference between this Iberian paradise and our Midwest city? Color. | Photo via Pexels, by AXP Photography

Get to know Seville

This Spanish paradise is nestled in the autonomous community of Andalusia, in the southwest of the Iberian Peninsula — just east of southern Portugal.

The city is best known for its tradition of flamenco and Spanish guitar, tapas restaurants, ceramics, and most of all, its unique Moorish architecture. Think: the Catedral de Sevilla, the largest Gothic temple in Europe.

This wacky wooden structure has a lot of jobs, including being a rooftop terrace with a panoramic views of the city. | Photo via Pexels, by Javier Gonzalez

Seville + Kansas City

Long before the official partnership, J.C. Nichols created the Country Club Plaza with a distinctly Spanish vision, eventually commissioning replicas of Seville's Giralda + Plaza de la Virgen de los Reyes fountains in the mid-sixties. In 1967, Kansas City's first international partnership began with Seville.

Nowadays you can get involved with the local sister city chapter — and if you ever find yourself across the Atlantic, we recommend exploring the Avenida de Kansas City and searching for Seville's own (miniature) version of The Scout.