The Cathedral of Seville, officially known as the Catedral de Santa María de la Sede, is one of the most remarkable and historically significant landmarks in Spain. It is located in the heart of Seville, the capital of the Andalusia region, and is renowned for its impressive Gothic architecture and immense historical value.

It is extremely hard to describe just how stupendously big the interior of the cathedral is! You get some suggestions by the exterior but when you get inside next to the pillars that hold the vaulted roof up, you get goosebumps! We have been in many of the large cathedrals of Europe but none made such an impression of scale and sheer size like the cathedral of Seville. 

Construction of the cathedral began in 1401, on the site of a former Almohad mosque, after the Reconquista. The project aimed to demonstrate Seville’s wealth and religious devotion. It was completed in 1507, although work and modifications continued in later centuries.

Like always, remember to buy tickets from the official site, we did the full tour with audio guide, and with such a vast space with so much to see, it was super helpful to have a guide in our ears while visiting. 

The cathedral is Gothic in style, with elements of Renaissance and Baroque added later. It is considered the largest Gothic cathedral in the world and one of the largest churches overall.

La Giralda

Originally a minaret from the Almohad mosque, La Giralda was converted into a bell tower after the cathedral was built. It is a blend of Islamic and Renaissance architecture. Visitors can climb the ramped interior to enjoy panoramic views of Seville. Instead of stairs, the tower has a series of ramps so horses could be ridden to the top to issue the call to prayer. When you buy tickets you can add the tower to your visit, and we highly recommend to do the climb. It is a bit of a hike but the gradient rather than stairs makes it ok, and there are recesses along the way where you can have a breather. The views from the top are spectacular and totally worth every drop of sweat. 

The cathedral houses one of the largest altarpieces in the world, a magnificent Gothic work of art depicting scenes from the life of Christ and the Virgin Mary. The Retablo Mayor, is one of the most intricate altarpieces in the world. It took decades to craft and features over 1,000 carved wooden figures covered in gold leaf. It was almost impossible to take one picture of the whole piece, the size and scale of it is just too big. Total amazeballs! 

The cathedral claims to house the remains of Christopher Columbus, held in a grand tomb supported by statues representing the kingdoms of Spain. DNA tests suggest the bones are his, but some believe part of his remains might still be in the Dominican Republic.

Patio de los Naranjos is the courtyard that was originally part of the mosque. It features orange trees and a central fountain, retaining its Moorish influence. It also contains an unusual guest: a lone fig tree among the orange trees. No one knows how it got there!

The Cathedral of Seville reflects the city’s diverse history, showcasing influences from Islamic, Christian, and European Renaissance cultures much like many other cities in Spain. It is a layered cake, and at that it is the biggest cake of them all!