Los Gallos: getting there and the show

Finding Plaza de Santa Cruz

The tablao is at Plaza de Santa Cruz 11, in the Barrio de Santa Cruz, Seville's medieval Jewish quarter. The Real Alcázar, the Cathedral and the Murillo Gardens are all part of the same quarter, so if you've visited any of them, you've been close. The square is easy to recognise: orange trees, ceramic benches and, in the middle, a tall wrought-iron cross known as the Cruz de la Cerrajería. A plaque marks the site of the old Church of Santa Cruz, where the painter Murillo was buried. The lanes that lead there are narrow and winding, so use a map on your phone.

Getting there by metro, tram or taxi

Seville's metro line 1 and its single tram line, the T1, both stop at Puerta de Jerez, on the edge of the old town. The tram also stops at Archivo de Indias and at Prado de San Sebastián. From any of these you finish on foot. The tablao itself notes that Santa Cruz is a pedestrian area and advises allowing extra time to walk in. A taxi can bring you nearer, but expect to walk the last stretch through the lanes. Before the late show, check the last metro or tram for your trip back.

When to arrive

Aim to be at the door 15 to 30 minutes before the start. That's the tablao's own advice, and it matters more here than at a theatre, because seats are allocated in order of arrival on the day, not when you book. Arriving early is the only way to choose a seat near the front, where the dancers' footwork is easiest to see. There are two shows each evening, an earlier and a later one, and your confirmation shows the time. Each show runs about 75 minutes.

Read next: Tablao Los Gallos tickets: how to book

What to wear, and Seville's heat

There's no dress code, but the tablao suggests a little care: you don't need evening wear, though very casual clothes don't suit the mood of a serious art form. Smart-casual is the safe middle. Wear comfortable shoes, because you'll walk the narrow lanes of the old town to get there. Seville gets very hot in summer, and the tablao's advice for summer visits is to carry water and be ready for the temperatures. The room is small and full, so light, breathable layers beat anything heavy.

Do you need Spanish?

No. The songs are in Spanish, but there's no spoken story to follow. The tablao's own answer to this question is that flamenco works through feeling, rhythm and gesture, so you don't need to translate the lyrics to be moved by them. It helps to know three words: cante is the song, baile the dance and toque the guitar. You'll hear shouts of olé from the stage during the show. They're the artists encouraging each other, not a sign that anything has gone wrong.

What you'll hear: no microphones

Los Gallos says it uses no microphones, speakers or amplifiers. The room is small and was restored for its acoustics, so voices, guitars and footwork reach you as they are. UNESCO describes flamenco as a fusion of song, dance and musicianship, with hand-clapping and foot-stamping also used to make the music. Watch how the dancers, singers and guitarists cue one another. The tablao says it sets out to show a wide range of palos, or styles, so that you can feel what sets each apart, from the deep soleá to the playful bulerías.

Read next: What to Expect at a Flamenco Show

Where tablaos come from

Flamenco's heartland is Andalusia, and in 2010 UNESCO added it to its list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. UNESCO notes the essential role of the Gitano (Roma) community in its development. Seville matters to how flamenco became a stage art. In 1881 the singer Silverio Franconetti opened a flamenco café there, where competition between singers helped the professional flamenco singer emerge, and cafés like it helped shape the genre. A tablao such as Los Gallos, opened in 1966, carries on that idea: a small room, live artists and an audience close to the stage.

Bringing children

Plan on 6 as the youngest age. The tablao's own booking form doesn't admit children under 6, and the GetYourGuide ticket isn't suitable for children under 5. Minors must come with an adult. Under the tablao's terms, bookings that include children are seated on the upper floor, so you won't be in the front row with them. Think about the hour too: the later show finishes well into the evening, and 75 minutes of mostly serious music asks a lot of a young child. The early show is the easier choice for families.

Wheelchairs and access

The show is wheelchair accessible. Because seats are handed out on arrival, and the tablao keeps the right to hold seats for people with special needs, contact it before your visit to arrange a suitable place. Its phone line, +34 954 216 981, is open from 11:00 to 22:00. Think about the approach as well: the lanes of the old quarter are narrow and busy, so check your route in advance. A taxi to as close to the square as it can get may be easier than walking in from the metro.

Phones, photos and applause

The tablao asks you to switch your phone off or to silent and not to use flash. In its words, the audience's silence and attention are part of the respect owed to the artists. Hold your applause until a piece ends rather than clapping along. Flamenco rhythm, the compás, demands precise timing, and the hand-clapping you hear from the stage is part of the music. If you're unsure what's welcome, follow what the people around you do.

Who this isn't for

If you're travelling with children under 6, Los Gallos won't admit them. If you need a guaranteed seat in a specific spot, the arrival-order system won't suit you. If sitting still for 75 minutes in a warm, full room sounds hard, think twice, especially in summer. Anyone hoping to eat during the show should look elsewhere: no meal comes with the ticket. And if you find narrow, busy lanes difficult after dark, plan a taxi and allow extra time for the last stretch on foot.