The Cathedral of Seville | What to see in Seville

The Seville Cathedral is one of the most outstanding monuments of the city of Seville and is located in the centre of its historic quarter. As well as being the largest Gothic cathedral in the world, it is a vibrant testimony to the continuity of faith and culture over the centuries.

In this post we will tell you everything you need to know about the Cathedral of Seville and its Giralda.

History and architecture of Seville Cathedral

At the end of the 12th century, the Caliph Abú Yuqub ordered the construction of the Great Mosque of Seville, however, it is in 1401 when it was decided to build Seville Cathedral. and became the church of Santa María de la Sede, after the conquest of the city by Ferdinand III of Castile. Later, it was decided to convert the minaret into the current and famous Giralda.

This construction took place over several centuries, with architectural contributions of various styles, including Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque, due to the lengthy construction phases.

In 1987, the Seville Cathedral, together with the Royal Alcazar and the Archivo de Indias, was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.recognising its cultural and architectural importance.

Visit Seville Cathedral

Seville has many points of interest to see, but without a doubt, the Cathedral of Seville is the monument that receives the most visitors each year. The visit lasts about an hour and a half.

The essential things to see in Seville Cathedral are:

1. The numerous Chapels and AltarsEach of which is richly decorated with works of art, including paintings and sculptures by masters such as Murillo and Zurbarán. Highlights include the crypt of the Royal Chapel, with the tombs of several monarchs of Castile, such as Ferdinand III and Alfonso X the Wise.
2. The Door of Forgivenessone of the most notable entrances to the cathedral, and an impressive example of Gothic architecture. Although it has a total of 10 doors, the Puerta de la Asunción is the main door of the temple.
3. The tomb of Christopher Columbus inside it.
4. The Orange Tree Courtyard is one of the main legacies of the mosque that used to occupy this space, which stands out because of its central marble fountain and dozens of orange trees.
5. The Giraldathe bell tower of the cathedral.

However, it is worth noting that the Cathedral of Seville is considered one of the best art galleries in Spain, as it contains more than 500 works (produced between the 16th and 21st centuries), you can admire works by Murillo, Alejo Fernández, Pedro de Campaña, Luis de Vargas, Zurbarán, Francisco de Goya and much more.

The tickets to the Cathedral of Seville and its Giralda are priced at 11 € per personHowever, depending on whether you want to add the audio guide or book a guided tour, the price increases. You can check availability and opening times for all types of tickets on the official website: www.catedraldesevilla.es

The Giralda

The Giralda In its origins it served as an element for the call to prayer, however, throughout its history it has been used as a watchtower for defence and as a granary, among others.

Currently, the Giralda is the the cathedral's bell tower, which is about 100 metres highand one of the highlights of the cathedral. The climb to the top of the Giralda is via a spiral ramp, which allows you to enjoy incredible panoramic views of Seville and its surroundings.

The conservation and restoration of the cathedral and the gIralda are ongoing, demonstrating the commitment of the authorities and the community to preserve this heritage for future generations.

You may be interested to know more about The Giralda of Seville in our other post.