Seville Cathedral

Plenty of bling inside but the outside’s the highlight.

Blend together religious conflict plus riches from Columbus’s big American trip and the result is the largest cathedral in Christendom (or potentially the third largest. Sources vary. It seems to depend on who counts what part.)

Anyway, the cathedral in Seville is huge and, on the outside, incredibly tastefully done. Its honeyed tower, the Giralda, still forms Seville’s central landmark and the lines of orange trees and horse-drawn carriages around its give it plenty of atmosphere.

Inside, it’s evident that Seville had no unified plan when it conceived the project. White domes reminiscent of art galleries follow off side rooms with jewel-encrusted crowns and the structure of the central nave is broken up by wildly elaborate gold choir stalls and altars.

Costing 8 euros to enter, it seems that it’s expensive to keep up with the Joneses.

For me, the view from the top of the Giralda’s 105 metres  makes the visit worthwhile. From this former minaret, you can appreciate the full extent of the Real Alcazar’s gardens, the Alamillo Bridge, the prominence of the Maestranza Bullring and the spread of those ubiquitous orange trees. The view also gives an idea of the size and scale of Seville, one that’s easily missed by strolling around the tight, angulated streets of Santa Cruz.

If you’re short of time, however, I’d recommend giving it a miss and heading across the Plaza to the Real Alcazar instead.

Seville Cathedral is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with variable opening times. To avoid disappointment if you’re only there for one weekend check in with this site for up to date details.

Floor to Ceiling Gold - for 42 metres

View from the Giralda