Seville Cathedral & Giralda Tower, Seville (must see)

Seville Cathedral and the Giralda Tower form one of Spain’s most powerful architectural ensembles and a defining symbol of the city. The cathedral stands on the site of Seville’s former Great Mosque. After the city was conquered by Ferdinand III in 1248, the mosque remained in use for some time before being replaced in the 14th century by a new Christian cathedral. When plans for the church were presented, it is said that the elders declared: “Let us build a church so beautiful and so grand that those who see it finished will think we were mad.” The result is the largest Gothic cathedral in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987. When Hagia Sophia in Istanbul was converted into a mosque in the 15th century, Seville Cathedral became the tallest cathedral in the Christian world.

The entrance is located on the south side of the building. This entrance is easily identified by the Giraldillo statue—a large bronze figure standing on a pedestal in front of the door. This statue is an exact replica of the weather vane that sits at the very top of the Giralda Tower.

Inside, the cathedral’s immense scale reflects Seville’s wealth during its rise as Spain’s main gateway to the Americas. In the Central Nave sits the largest and most expensive altarpiece in the world. The Great Altar consists of 45 separate panels, which tell the story of the Bible in chronological order from bottom to top. It was designed so that even those who couldn’t read could understand the life of Christ through these intricate carvings. Covered in nearly two tons of gold, it took almost a century to complete, from 1482 to 1564. To find the altar, look for the massive gilded iron grille that separates it from the rest of the space.

The cathedral is also where the remains of Christopher Columbus are preserved. Walk along the south transept and look for four larger-than-life bronze figures carrying the casket on their shoulders. The bronze casket holds bone fragments of the famous explorer, as confirmed by DNA testing in 2006 and more recently in 2024. The figures represent the four kingdoms of Spain: Castile, Aragon, León, and Navarre. Notice that the kingdom of Castile—the figure in front with a castle engraved on its garment—is stepping forward and holding a ship's oar, symbolizing overseas discovery.

A visit to Seville wouldn’t be complete without climbing its iconic symbol. The Giralda Tower was originally built in the late 12th century as the mosque’s minaret during the Almohad period. Constructed from local brick and recycled marble from earlier Umayyad buildings, its design was inspired by the Koutoubia Mosque in Marrakesh. The tower is located in the northeast corner of the building. To reach the top, you do not climb stairs; instead, you walk up 35 wide ramps. This allowed the muezzin—and, according to tradition, even the sultan on horseback—to ascend to the top. Once at the bell level, you will enjoy a 360° panoramic view of the entire city.