Seville, Seville, Andalusia, Spain
Minaret / Bell Tower · Almohad · 12th Century
The Giralda is the bell tower of Seville Cathedral in Seville, Spain. It was originally built as the minaret for the Great Mosque of Seville during the reign of the Almohad dynasty. The Renaissance-style top was added by the Catholics after the expulsion of the Muslims.
Construction: 1184 – 1198 (Almohad section)
Founder: Abu Yaqub Yusuf
Key figures: Ahmad ibn Baso, Ali de Gómara
Significance: Originally the minaret of the Great Mosque of Seville, it is a masterpiece of Almohad architecture.
- 1184: Construction begins under Abu Yaqub Yusuf
- 1198: Completion with four copper spheres at the top
- 1365: Copper spheres destroyed by earthquake
- 1568: Renaissance belfry added by Hernán Ruiz the Younger
Architectural styles: Almohad, Renaissance
Architects: Ahmad ibn Baso
Materials: Brick, Stone
- Sebka Decoration: Interlacing diamond patterns in brickwork covering the tower's faces.
- Ramps: 35 ramps instead of stairs, designed to allow the muezzin to ride a horse to the top.
- El Giraldillo: Bronze statue representing Faith, acting as a weather vane.
Opening hours: 10:45 - 19:30 (summer) · 10:45 - 17:00 (winter) – Part of the Cathedral visit.
- General: €12.00
- Students/Seniors: €6.00
Accessibility: Ramps make it easier than stairs, but still steep. No elevator.
Official site: https://www.catedraldesevilla.es
Address: Av. de la Constitución, s/n, 41004 Sevilla, Spain
Coordinates: 37.3862, -5.9926