Spanish Treasure No. 3: Seville Cathedral

The Twelve Treasures of Spain is a list chosen by listeners and viewers of two Spanish radio and TV channels. In six episodes, we review these top choices. At the end of each episode, we refer to one of the six choices we previously wrote about in this blog.

The Cathedral of Seville is worth a visit simply because of its enormous size. The largest Gothic church in the world is even more impressive because of the Giralda. This bell tower was, during its construction in the Moorish period, the tallest minaret in the world at 104 meters. The tower can be climbed for panoramic views over Seville. The Giralda is one of the few remaining parts of the mosque from that time. The rest of the mosque was largely demolished when construction of the cathedral began in 1402 and was completed in 1506. In the second half of the 16th century, various Renaissance-style additions were made, including a royal chapel, sacristy, a series of sculptures, and the chapter hall.

The interior of the cathedral is also very impressive. In the building, which is 127 meters long, 83 meters wide, and 43 meters high, is the tomb of the explorer Christopher Columbus. Visitors will also find numerous artworks, stained glass, altarpieces made by local artists, and famous paintings.

The cathedral is located in the historic city center. This old Jewish quarter with its narrow streets is home to another important tourist attraction: the royal palace, dating from the time of Moorish rule, is so popular that tickets must be booked in advance. Another highlight is the Plaza de España, famous for its 52 benches, each decorated with Andalusian tiles representing all the provinces of Spain. Moreover, the city is known as the birthplace of the Sevillana festivals held annually. These festivities celebrate Andalusian traditions of flamenco, horses, and authentic food. Interest in them is so great in Spain that similar festivals are also regularly held on the coasts.

Earlier in this blog, we wrote about number 4 on the list, the Alhambra Palace in Granada. See here.