R. and I spent the morning wandering around Seville before meeting up to visit the cathedral. We had thought to go in the morning, but then decided that we might be able to avoid the crowds by going later in the day. And we were spot on! I had walked past the cathedral in the morning as it opened and the line to get in stretched around the block - when we arrived in the afternoon, we walked straight in!
Work on the cathedral began in 1402 on the site of a 12th century mosque that was destroyed to clear space for the cathedral that was to be so great that "those who come after us will take us for madmen" for building such an immense structure. And with its 44 individual chapels it is the largest Gothic edifice ever constructed.
The cathedral incorporates the La Giralda minaret, built in 1198. The tower, along with its twins in Marrakesh and Rabat are the oldest and longest surviving Almohad minarets in the world. Instead of stairs, 35 ramps lead to the top of the tower. These were installed in order to allow a disabled muezzin to ride his horse up to issue the call to prayer. The views from the top of the tower is spectacular!
Inside the cathedral, the 42m tall central nave is decorated with 3 tons of gold leaf and is considered one of the greatest in the Christian world. The opulence of the cathedral, the chapels and the relics is quite overwhelming.
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| Nuns out and about on their business! |
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