What is touted as the biggest Gothic cathedral in the world (by volume) was built in 80 years, remarkably fast given that most cathedrals take centuries not decades to build. Alfonso, our guide, explained the speed of construction was due to several factors: they had the money, they were able to float the limestone quarried in Cadiz up the Rio Guadalquivir, and they incorporated both the existing mosque's courtyard and minaret, thereby saving time and money. The mosque was built 1184-1198, and with the Reconquesta, it was consecrated as a cathedral in 1248 and used as such until 1401. Then, given the decaying structure of the mosque, the people of Seville decided it and according to legend, "build a church so large future generations will think we were mad". The Gothic Cathedral was built 1434-1517, with additions of internal chapels coming in later centuries. It measures 126 meters long and 83 meters wide.
We walked up the minaret turned bell tower. It was built with ramps instead of stairs and there are marvelous views from each side looking out over the city. The picture on the left shows the orange trees in the courtyard.
Christopher Columbus is buried here - or at least a part of him is based on DNA evidence. He was moved 4 times after death, (from northern Spain to Sevilla to Santa Domingo to Cuba and finally back to Sevilla) - some say he travelled more after death then during his life. The tomb contains portions of his bones, and our guide jokingly said that there really is only a tapa of Columbus in Sevilla.
The main altar is undergoing restoration but we did see beautiful stain glass windows and impressive gothic architecture. This is a stain glass of two of the female patron saints of Sevilla: Santa Justa ( the train station is named after her) and Santa Rufina. They are always pictured with the Giralda Tower even though their martyrdom was 10 centuries before the tower was built.
La Giralda was built in the 1100's and withstood the 18th century earthquake that leveled Lisbon and sent shocks that created cracks in the small part of the cathedral that was built on the original foundations of the mosque. The structure up to the bell tower is original, with the bell tower added in the 16th century.
The figure on the top of La Giralda is also a weathervane, la Giraldillo, supposedly representing faith. Its name is somehow associated with the Spanish word for wind. It has come to be one of primary Sevilla's symbols; the Sevilla Film Festival hands out Giraldas instead of Oscars to its winners.
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