You think you already know it all about Seville, the art of flamenco, the delicious tapas, the gypsy music… but do you know that the capital of Andalucía hides some amazing treasures of architecture from all over the centuries? The city is unique in Spain and its architecture reflects all the richness of its history, starting with the influence of the Arabs. Seville was one of the first cities to fall into the hands of the Moors in 712, and was even from 1170 to 1212 the capital of the Moorish empire.

After the discovery of America, its harbor became the largest in Europe. Numerous goods were traded there and a mixture of cultures and populations invaded the city.

Come and discover with us the treasures of the city. We’ll begin our visit with:

The Giralda Tower

This magnificent tower is the former minaret of the Great Mosque of Seville.
When the Muslims were driven out of Spain, the mosque became a cathedral, and the minaret became…. a bell tower! The Arabs were so proud of their tower that they were considering destroying it before the arrival of the Christians. It is considered to be the twin sister of the Kutubia tower of Marrakech and of the great tower of the mosque of Al-Hassan in Rabat, Morocco.
At the top you can see a weathercock, “the Giraldillo”, which symbolizes the victory of the Christian Faith, a piece created by Bartolome Morel between 1566 and 1568.

The tower has been converted since the Arab time into the symbol of the city, and is adored by the population; it is even forbidden to build something that would be higher than the famous tower! You can even climb to the top which is an amazing 82 metres high, and enjoy a scenic view over the city.

The Cathedral

Next to the tower of the Giralda is the cathedral of Seville, built on the site of the former mosque. It is the largest Gothic cathedral in the world and the largest building ever built in medieval times. In 1928 it was declared a National Monument and classified by the UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Its appearance has evolved over the centuries; the only evidence of the ancient mosque is the famous Patio of the Orange trees. The cathedral houses many works of art, for instance the altar piece, one of the largest in the world (27metres high and 18 metres wide). In the Sacristy of Calices you could admire paintings of great value, such as the Santa Justa and Santa Rufina, both painted by Goya. You can also see the tomb of Christopher Columbus.

The Alcázar

Not far from the cathedral is another pearl of the architecture of Seville:
The Alcazar, the oldest royal palace in Europe. It is not a single palace but a series of buildings constructed by the monarchs since the Islamic time. Different styles come together, Islamic, Moorish, Gothic, and Renaissance. In the tenth century, Abdurrahman III built the first building, which was referred to as Dar al-Imara or “house of the Governor.” Only the ramparts remain. From the period of the Almohads remain the Patio del Yeso and a section of wall. The ornamentation of the patio has served as an inspiration for the great Alhambra in Granada. The architectural beauty of these palaces is so grand that you could spend a whole day contemplating it and trying to decipher from which centuries each part belongs to!

You must admire the great doors (1366), the dome, which was built in 1427, the rich decoration of the wall tiles, the large number of rooms that have kept their original furniture, and the chapel where the Virgin of the Sailors painted by Alejo Fernández is kept. It is also the first representation in Europe of the discovery of America!

The gardens of the Alcazar are amazingly beautiful and reflect the different styles of gardening used throughout the centuries. Over the years the gardens have been enriched with plants from all over the world.

Aren’t you convinced yet? Hurry up and book your trip and rent Apartments in Seville to enjoy the good weather and discover a wonderful and unique Spanish architecture. Andalucía is waiting for you!