Giralda, Sevilla

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“The first thing to do is to ascend the Giralda.”
from the 1830s ‘Handbook for Travelers in Spain’ by Richard Ford

First Things First — If it’s not the first thing you do, make sure you do it. The climb to the top of the 230-foot tall bell tower known as la Giralda, the emblem of Sevilla, is an easy one compared to other towers. Instead of stairs the builders used 34 ramps with a gentle slope to facilitate the climb. The view is well worth your effort.

Faith, standing 13 feet high, has crowned the top of the tower since 1568. The bronze sculpture was originally called Giralda, meaning weathervane, because it twists with the wind. As time went by, the tower became known as la Giralda while Faith came to be called Giraldillo.

The Giraldillo symbolises the Catholic faith. The Renaissance figure wears a tunic, with a warrior’s shield in one hand and a palm frond of peace in the other.

As you wait in line at Puerta San Cristobal to enter the cathedral, there is a copy of the Giraldillo to keep you company. In a most democratic fashion, the citizens of Sevilla were asked which they wanted at the top of the tower. The majority chose the original.

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The Giralda is the minaret of the ancient Almohad Mosque. The slender body is made on brick in Almohad style. In 1568 Hernán Ruiz added the bell tower, crowned by a statue of Faith in the shape of a woman with classic Roman cloth, holding in her hands a shield and a palm. This figure is known as el giraldillo.

The way up consists of ramps instead of stairs, since the muezzin used to go up riding a mule five times a day to call to prayer. On top of the tower there are excellent views of the city.

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Towering gloriously over the city of Seville, la Giralda is a surviving reminder of the Great Mosque of Ishbilia (i.e, the Arabic name for Seville). This minaret and its majestic mosque were built in 1198 AD by Almohads, during Moslem al-Andalus, and modelled after al-Koutoubia Minaret in Marrakech. So impressive was la Giralda to Europeans, it inspired the construction of church bell towers all over the continent. After the reconquest of Seville by the Catholics, the mosque was destroyed to make way for the largest cathedral in Europe, but the minaret and the adjacent courtyard were spared destruction and were incorporated into the construction of the Gothic cathedral, which began in 1401. Though it has remained largely intact, la Giralda was crowned with a Baroque bell tower in 1568. It is beautifully illuminated by night and is open to visitors during the day for exceptional vistas of the city of Seville. La Giralda is the uncontested symbol of the city of Seville.

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The Giralda is the Bell Tower of the Cathedral of Sevilla and used to be (at least the first two thirds) the minaret of the Almohad Mosque of Sevilla back in medieval times.

Please read all the interesting details from the link below!

We heard that one had a fantastic view of Sevilla from the top of the Giralda, but since there was no separate entrance for the Giralda only (just in combination with the Cathedral), we did not climb it! Oh, by the way: no steps there, just ramps, so that the soldiers back then could go up on their horses!!!

Passion of a different sort. My foremost thought when writing this tip is to link this form of sacred music to the statues of saints lining the exterior of the Giralda. That aside, the spiralling minarets resembling conches set against Gothic arches, seem to be pretty eccentric for a religious place. Add to that, swaying palms (akin to a Middle Eastern scenary) at one side of its facade - you'd almost think a mosque is a better fit in the picture.

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The girlada is one of the most touristic place to visit so maybe you'll find lots of people for going up. Anyway i suggest u go to the top 'couse you have a beautiful and amazing panoramic view of Sevilla and of the river Guadalquivir. If you have read the Dan Brown books, you can remember that "Crypto" (in italian titel, around the world the correct title is "digital fortress") is located here. I love to find the places that i have read into the books. Anyway the Girlada is great example of architecture, it's not hard to arrive to the top (there were also families with little children) and it gives you a great panoramic view of Sevilla. Just pay attention to the bells when you are on the top..sometimes(every hour), they ring, and you are just there, close to them

The Giralda used to be part of a mosque, but is now the bell tower for the cathedral. You can access it from inside the cathedral and though the walk up is quite long, the path is flat like a wheelchair ramp (the only stairs are in the top part) so it's not that tiring. On the way up, you'll see some historical objects and info on them, and once you get to the top, the view from up there is amazing!

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The Giralda was the former minaret of the old Moorish mosque, today its the tower of the cathedral and as the city's landmark you surely can't miss seeing it!. In the time when it was built it was the highest building in the world. Today, including some additions made by the Christians with a huge bronze statue at its top, the Giralda measures 97,5 meters. Its woth the climb (not steps but sloped ramps) for the fantastic view over all the city from the top - not a lot of room though! Its beautifully lit up at night too.