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  Essential Architecture-  Seville

Seville Cathedral

architect

 Christian bell fry was added by Hernán Ruiz in 1568

location

 Seville

date

 1401–1519

style

 Gothic Moorish

construction

 stone

type

 Church
  The "Giralda Tower" was based on the eight-hundred-year-old Koutoubia Minaret in Morrocco.
 
 
 
   
The city's cathedral was built from 1401–1519 after the Reconquista on the former site of the city's mosque. It is the largest of all medieval and Gothic cathedrals, in terms of both area and volume. The interior, with the longest nave in Spain, is lavishly decorated, with a large quantity of gold evident. The Cathedral reused some columns and elements from the mosque, and most famously the Giralda, originally a minaret, was converted into a bell tower. It is topped with a statue, known locally as La Giraldilla, representing Faith. The Giralda, based on a mosque tower in Morocco, is the city's most famous symbol and has been copied by many turn of the century buildings, especially in America.
Construction was started on "La Giralda" in 1184 and lasted for twelve years. When completed in 1196 the top of the tower didn't look like it does today. It was used to call Moors to prayer and also as an astronomical observatory. In 1198 four brightly polished copper spheres were added by the Moors to the top of the tower. The reflecting sun light from the balls was so brilliant the city made its presence known for miles. When the copper spheres were destroyed by an earthquake in 1356 they were replaced (in 1400 AD) by Christian religious features (cross and bell). The present bell room at the top was added to the tower in 1560, with construction ending in 1568AD.
With thanks to http://www.travelinginspain.com
 

The Cathedral of Seville was built in the 15th and 16th century in Gothic style on the grounds of the former major Arab mosque. It is the largest place of worship in Spain, and the third largest cathedral in the Christian world.

Enter the building from Alemanes street through the Puerta del Perdón into the  Patio de los Naranjos. You will find there a PILA of the 5th century BC. Then climb up to the Giralda tower, which was the minaret of the 12th century Moslem mosque. Its Christian bell fry was added by Hernán Ruiz in 1568. From there you can oversee large parts of Seville:

The "Giralda Tower" was originally a "Minaret", part of the Moorish Mosque that preceded the Cathedral. In 1248 the Minaret was considered a marvel even to Fernando III who demanded its protection prior to him conquering the city.

The construction of the Tower (Minaret) was ordered by the Almohad ruler Yousouf Yacoub al-Mansour.

Construction was started on "La Giralda" in 1184 and lasted for twelve years. When completed in 1196 the top of the tower didn't look like it does today. It was used to call Moors to prayer and also as an astronomical observatory. In 1198 four brightly polished copper spheres were added by the Moors to the top of the tower. The reflecting sun light from the balls was so brilliant the city made its presents known for miles. When the copper spheres were destroyed by an earthquake in 1356 they were replaced (in 1400 AD) by Christian religious features (cross and bell). The present bell room at the top was added to the tower in 1560, with construction ending in 1568AD.

links

 More info on Giralda Towers at http://www.nyc-architecture.com/ARCH/ARCH-notes-municipal.htm
www.essential-architecture.com