|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Tip: Tickets to the cathedral also includes entrance to the Giralda. |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
 |
Giralda – First thing when you enter the cathedral, make a beeline over to the Giralda. Climb up the tower (230 ft high) on a series of ramps that go up and up. On the way up, stop to see little exhibits, bits of old bells and clocks, simple tools used to construct this spectacular building. From the top there are panoramic views of the city and Gothic details of the cathedral rooftop. |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
When you exit the cathedral out through the Patio de los Naranjos, be sure to look up at the Giralda; kids can easily see the contrast between the original minaret, ornamented with delicate Islamic tracery and arches, and the later addition of the bulbous bell tower. |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Tip: For the best experience in the Giralda, get there when the cathedral opens and climb up the tower first. The cathedral is immense and can absorb lots of people, but going up the tower gets crowded. |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Cathedral (Catedral) – The Seville Cathedral is one of the biggest cathedrals in Europe, and the monumental interior is ornamented with massive gold and silver altarpieces, stained glass windows, painted chubby cherubs, lacey tracery in high Gothic ceilings. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Mausoleum of Christopher Columbus – Kids will naturally gravitate to this impressive monument – four figures in crowns (representing the four kingdoms of Leon, Castile, Aragon and Navarre) carrying a big coffin. In theory, Columbus is buried here in the cathedral, but there's some mystery. Columbus was first buried in Seville, but then reburied in Santo Domingo, then Cuba, and later returned to Seville. The question is whether his bones really made it back from Santo Domingo. |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Capilla Mayor – In the center of the cathedral is the richest altarpiece in the world, 45 different scenes, carved in wood and covered in gold. To the left is the Altar de Plata (Silver Altar) with an enormous sunburst, religious figures and candlestick, all in silver. |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Horse carriage rides – In the plazas around the cathedral, pick up a horse carriage ride. It's great fun to ride in a horse-drawn carraige around the old city, it feels like another era. Perhaps because there are so many carriages, you always hear horses clip-clopping through the streets, it's a wonderful sound and something kids don't normally hear. |
