Seville Cathedral & Giralda
The world's largest Gothic cathedral with a former minaret bell tower.
Ideal: Ideal for architecture, history, city views, and first-time Seville visitors.
By volume it is the world's largest Gothic cathedral; when construction was decided in 1401 councillors are said to have declared 'let us build a church so large they will think us mad'. An Almohad mosque previously stood on the site and its 1184 minaret was converted rather than demolished into the bell tower — the Giralda's lower body is therefore still Islamic architecture. You climb not by stairs but 35 ramps wide enough to ride a horse. Inside a casket carried by four allegorical figures holds the remains of Christopher Columbus.
Why go?
- To see one of the world's largest Gothic cathedrals
- To view Seville from the Giralda
- To feel Andalusia's Islamic, Christian, and city history in one building
Travel tip
The Giralda climb uses ramps not stairs but can still be tiring; comfortable shoes help.
