Seville Cathedral – a unique piece of architecture

Seville Cathedral, also known as María de la Cede, ranks third in the world ranking of Christian churches in terms of size. This gothic, large-scale holy place is mesmerising at first sight. The first thing that catches your eye is the monumentality, followed by an exploration of the original façade.

Features of the cathedral

A key feature of the Cathedral of Seville is that Christopher Columbus is buried here. The temple itself is located in Andalusia near the Archdiocese of the City and the Archivo de Indias. The site has been called a unique incarnation of the Reconquista, or rather the battle between Christians and Muslims as the former tried to free themselves from the latter.

The structure itself is striking in its original features. Despite the Spaniards’ love of the Gothic style, they still managed to create buildings which, although similar, are so radically different from one another. The façade of the cathedral leaves many landmarks behind. Its solemnity is due not only to the hands of the talented craftsman but also to the influence of nature.

Characteristics of Seville Cathedral

The total area of the site is 11.52 thousand square kilometres. It has 5 naves which differ in height from each other. The main tower reaches a height of 42 meters. The main chapel attracts attention because of its vault, which evokes associations with the flames and whose height is 56 metres.

The walls were built between the 15th and 19th centuries. Their decoration includes original carvings, impressive sculptures, as well as unparalleled carvings and vivid frescoes. Before the construction of the cathedral, there was a mosque. It was decided not to demolish the latter, but to transform it.

In course of creation of a new building the base of the previous one was kept. A bell tower was constructed instead of a minaret. The cathedral has a Giralda tower which reaches 120 metres and is considered to be the highest.

There is also an inner courtyard with a veritable orange grove. Despite the outward sullenness of the Cathedral itself, the visitor is faced with a play of light inside that is both bright and inviting. The inner garden is uplifting, not only in view, but also in aroma.

Interior of the Cathedral

The sombre facade of the cathedral is made up for by the striking interior. Inside, you can enjoy numerous works by true geniuses, including Murillo, Goya, de Surbapae, and others. One room is remarkable for its cross, which is said to be made of pure gold. It was brought by Columbus himself.

The cool thing about the cathedral is that every piece you can see inside was created in different eras. There are also up to 80 chapels which have been added to the main part. The main emphasis was on the Renaissance and Baroque styles. However, other styles slip in here and there. The Royal Chapel contains the tombs of local rulers.