The Cathedral, Seville

The cathedral of Seville, Spain

Location:
Cathedral of Seville
Avenida de la Constitución, s/n 41001 Sevilla (Sevilla)
Tel. +34 954214971 / Fax +34 954228432

«Let us build a church so big that those who see it will think us mad», that is what the cathedral chapter decided in 1401 when the former mosque of Seville had to be knocked down. It is one of the last Spanish Gothic cathedrals, and the Renaissance style is already evident there. Its impressive size makes it the third largest in the Christian world, after Saint Peter's in Vatican city and Saint Paul's in London.

Asunción gate of the Cathedral of Seville.

The exterior shows off particularly well the artistry of the unknown architect in playing with volumes and spaces. You enter by the Pardoner's door, formerly the majestic entrance of the old mosque and you will see another vestige: the peaceful Orange tree courtyard.

Naranjos (Orange trees) Square, in the Cathedral os Seville.

visit the Legend of the Cathedral´s cocodrile

Other monuments in Seville

Seville - The Alcázar palace
Seville - The Giralda tower
Seville - The Cathedral
Seville - Plaza de España
Full list of monuments in Seville City

Location map of The Cathedral

Selection

Province

City center

center map:

(37.38524, -5.99334)

zoom:

See large map of The Cathedral >>>

Inside

Inside the cathedral of Seville you will be struck by the size and richness of this universe of stone, stained glass windows and wrought iron work. The lightness of the columns accentuates the height of this hall-church with five spaces and lateral chapels. The simple crossing ogive vaults cover the nave except for the transept crossing where the flamboyant vaults stand 56 m tall.
A mirror in the floor lets you appreciate the superb carving.

Tomb of Columbus in the Cathedral of Seville

Inside the Cathedral the Tomb of Cristopher Columbus.

The chapels

View of the mayor chapel. THe main altar piece is guarded behind a fence that was forged between 1518 and 1532.

The capilla Mayor, of an unparalleled richness, is closed off by splendid 16C plateresque grills. Its immense Flemish retable gleaming with gold (1482-1525) is the largest in Spain (20 m high).

The great sacristy, an attractive 16C room in the form of a Greek cross, houses the superb Renaissance Monstrance by Juan de Arfe. In the plateresque style, the capilla Real impresses by its size.

Many other chapels and the treasure house allow you to admire some wonderful works by such as Murillo, Valdés, Leal and Zurbarán.

Other important monuments in Andalusia

Granada - Alhambra
Córdoba - Mosque/mesquita
Ronda - Puente nuevo (the new bridge)