Cathedral, Sevilla

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The Cathedral is a really impressive building. It is built in Gothic style (a favorite of mine) and the third-largest church in the world. It has a beautiful orange courtyard, you can climb the tower, there are some lovely windows, a lot of beautiful relics, and you can see the tomb of Christopher Columbus.

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This door gives access to the Patio de los Naranjos (the orange trees). As such, its not really a door to the Cathedral at all. This gate is part of the original mosque structure. As you can see in the picture the original decoration is retained. Of course, the statues of the saints were added later and are the work of Bartolome Lopez, done in 1522.

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The Cathedral of Seville is gigantic. If you have been to Spain you are no stranger to seeing large Cathedrals with elaborate ornamentation. The Cathedral of Seville (Catedral de Santa Maria de la Sede) is the largest Gothic church in the world and overall the third largest church in the world.

Before the Reconquista in 1248, what is now the Cathedral was the grand mosque. Today's belltower, the Giralda, was once the minaret for that mosque. The Cathedral itself was built in 1401 following a major earthquake that made the use of the existing structure too dangerous.

In some ways the Cathedral seems to have been snakebitten. Only a few years after completion of the structure, in 1506 the dome collapsed. Again it collapsed in 1888. Makes you wonder, doesn't it?

All in all though, The Cathedral of Seville is an amazing place. The interiors are somewhat dark so your photos may not come out too well. You have to look up and see the ceiling and the designs, it really is quite amazing. Off to one side, you will see the remains of Christopher Columbus. What is imposing about this Cathedral is its architecture, its enormous. That being so you don't get the same play of the light on the stained glass windows that you would get in a smaller place (like St Vitus in Prague, for example). Still, you should bear in mind that from the very beginning, the intent was to build one of the largest churches in Christendom.

Definitely see it, it's superb!

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The Patio de los Naranjos (Courtyard of the orange trees) is the area just outside the actual Cathedral. As this was once a mosque, the function this patio once served was that of a place where worshipers could wash their feet before going in to pray. This under the sweet smell of orange trees.

Today it is a calm place, a good place to prepare yourself for a hike up to the top of the Giralda or a lot of walking around. The day I was there was really quiet, it was a beautiful little refuge from the hustle and bustle

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This is one of the biggest Cathedral's in the world. It was consecrated in 1248 being built over the site of a Muslim mosque from 1401.

The structure is mainly Gothic, although the interior has many differing styles and splendid stained glass windows. The adjoining tower, La Garalda, was the Mosque's minaret and dates from the 12th century. A climb up it (ramp not stairs), affords spectacular views over the city.

Inside the Cathedral are 5 Gothic naves plus a grand transept which houses the chancel and one of the most splendid altarpieces in Christendom. The tomb of Christopher Columbus is housed inside as are a number of priceless treasures stored in the sacristies. The Chapter and Library also contain documents and manuscripts of historic value. There are many other tombs other than Columbus and the Crypt contains the likes of Alfonso the Wise and King Saint Ferdinand. Many previous sculptures, paintings and metalworks adorn the very lavish interior.

The only things that remain from the mosque built in the 12th century and replaced by the cathedral are the tower - Giralda - and the adjacent cloister, called Pateo de los Naranjos because it is all planted with orange trees. The Muslim origins can be clearly seen in one of its doors, called Puerta del Perdon.

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This perfect example of Gothic architecture, enriched with the Muslim tower of Giralda and "pateos", it's a cool place in the furnace of Seville, with lots of treasures to justify a long and relaxing visit, with special evidence to Colon's tomb.

Built in the beginning of the 15th century, it is the third largest church in the world, and so beautiful that I must not waste your time describing some of the beauties that you need to discover locally by yourself, with the help of a good guide.

However, if it means nothing to you there's another reason to approach it - It is also the central place from where horse ridden carts depart, covering the touristy area in the easiest way to do it.

Sevilla is a wonderful city, with a huge history and great activities. Did you know that the Sevilla's Cathedral is the Gothic biggest one in the world? And inside it's Cristobal Colon tomb?

I'm from Spain and know a couple of companies that can help you with the personal guide and other things like tickets, transportation, etc. If you need further information just send me your contact info and I'll tell them to write you an email.

Cheers.

This massive Cathedral, one of the largest in Europe, features a tower that uses a ramp to the top. There are about 15 steps on a stair at the top. There are plenty of places to stop and rest on the way up, this is not the usual crowded cathedral stairway. Included in the entrance price to this church is the tower and its view of Sevilla.
But better than all that is the Tomb of Cristoforo Columbo located inside and to the right of the entrance.
This is a real highlight to your visit.
No catacombs.
Long lines.
Lots of gold items from the New World, and if you look carefully you will find relics in the treasure room.

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The great Cathedral of Santa Maria de la Sede de Sevilla is the largest gothic cathedral in Europe. The construction began in 1401 and ended in 1506. The Almohad mosque that had been used as a church since 1248 was demolished, but the Almohad tower, the Giralda, was preserved.

The cathedral is the third largest church in the Christian world, after Saint Peter in Rome and Saint Paul in London, thus the second largest of the Catholic churches. When it was built, it was the largest cathedral, supplanting Saint Sophia in Istanbul, which had held the title for more than ten centuries.

Its first architect could be Charles Galter of Rouen and the design is influenced by French models. The seven naves, its high altitude (44 meters on the nave) and its nearly 100 windows are impressive. It is a building stepped outwardly supported in many buttresses topped by pinnacles.

The choir occupies the central portion of the nave. In front of it, there is a vast Gothic altarpiece of carved scenes from the life of Christ.

The Iglesia del Sagrario (Tabernacle church) is a temple integrated in the cathedral, on the left side. The Chapterhouse, the Main Sacristy or the Sacristy of Chalices keep some pieces of art worth to be seen. There are paintings of Murillo and Zurbarán, as well as works of gold and silver religious objects, reliquaries, and a magnificent Monstrance by Juan de Arfe.

The Tablas Alfonsíes are also kept in the cathedral: a book which contains a series of astronomic tables that provided data for computing the position of the Sun, Moon and planets relative to the fixed stars. They were prepared in Toledo around 1252 to 1270, based on observations by Islamic astronomers and on earlier astronomical works preserved by Islamic scholars. Alfonso X the Wise, son of Fernando III, ordered the elaboration of these tables.

The Seville Cathedral is the burial site of Chistopher Columbus, the famous navigator who discovered America in 1492, sponsored by the Spanish Catholic Monarchs. His mausoleum is on the right side of the crossing. The mausoleum is made in bronze and it represents Columbus’ coffin borne by heralds of the four kingdoms that constituted Spain: Castile, Leon, Aragon and Navarre.

The remains of King Fernando III de Castilla (1199-1252) are in the Royal Chapel, in a silver coffin at the foot of the image of Virgen de los Reyes. Seville was conquered under the rule of Fernando III in 1248. In 1671 and the king was canonized by Pope Clement X, known from then on as San Fernando or Fernando III el Santo.

The west façade there are three porticoes: Portada del Bautismo, Portada de la Asunción and Portada de San Miguel o del Nacimiento. On the south façade is the Puerta de San Cristóbal o del Príncipe. In the north façade, Puerta del Perdón (Portico of Forgiveness) gives access to the Patio de los Naranjos. Puerta de la Concepción (Portico of Conception) and Puerta del Lagarto connect this patio with the nave. There are two porticoes on the east façade: Puerta de Campanillas and Puerta de Palos.

The Patio de los Naranjos and Giralda are the only remains of the old Mosque.

Opening hours: daily from 11:00 to 17:00 hours.
Sundays from 14:30 to 18:00 hours.
Entrance fee: 7,50 €.