The Cathedral of Seville is probably the most emblematic monument of the city. Unesco declared it a World Heritage Site in 1987, along with the Alcázar and the Archivo de Indias. It is considered the largest Gothic temple in the world.
Most of its work was done in the late Gothic style during the 15th century, although it retains elements of the 12th-century Almohad mosque on which it sits, such as the Patio de los Naranjos or the Giralda. In addition, in the 16th century the Royal Chapel, the Chapter House and the Greater Sacristy were added in the Renaissance style. Later, during the Baroque period and practically up to the present day, various elements of the cathedral would be added and remodeled, until it became a true compendium of the history of art in the city.
Its floor plan is one of the hall calls, with a flat head and five naves, the central one being taller and wider than the rest. It has numerous side chapels located between the buttresses.
The supports are enormous pillars with a rhomboid section, made of brick and masonry and covered with ashlars. Rib vaults sit on them, so characteristic of Gothic. They are sexpartite in the chapels, quadripartite in the naves, and those corresponding to the transept, in the central part of the temple, are star-shaped.
On the side chapels and on the main axes there is a narrow gallery in the form of a clerestory.
Its construction was approved by the cathedral chapter in 1401. Legend has it that the project would be inspired by the phrase "Let's make a church so beautiful and so great that those who see it carved will consider us crazy" and according to the capitular act of that day the new work should be "one such and so good, that there is no other like it."
View of the Cathedral from the Puerta del León of the Alcázar. You can see the dome that covers the Chapter House and, in the background, the Giralda
Night view of the Cathedral of Seville from the avenue of the Constitution
Facade of the east side of the cathedral, with the head of the Royal Chapel and the Giralda in the background
Puerta de San Miguel, made in Gothic style in the 15th century. The main part of the sculptural decoration is the work of Mercadante de Brittany, who represents a beautiful "Nativity" on the tympanum.
Portal of Baptism, on the western façade of the Cathedral. It is made in Gothic style in the fifteenth century. The sculptures at the ends are the oldest surviving representations of Saints Justa and Rufina
Gate of Forgiveness. It is an entrance of Muslim origin, much reformed during the Renaissance, with sculptural decoration in fired clay by Miguel Perrin.
Puerta de Campanillas, made in Gothic style in the first half of the 16th century. The sculptural decoration is the work of Miguel Perrin, who introduces the Renaissance language, as can be seen in the "Entry into Jerusalem" that he represents on the tympanum
Puerta de Palos of the Cathedral, from the first half of the 16th century. The sculptural decoration is by the Frenchman Miguel Perrin, who represents the "Adoration of the Magi" on the tympanum.
Puerta de San Cristóbal or del Príncipe, on the south façade of the cathedral. It was made at the end of the 19th century in a neo-Gothic style. It stands out for its white color, since it is made of limestone from Monóvar (Alicante), unlike the limestone from the Sierra de San Cristóbal (Cádiz) in which the rest of the Cathedral is made.
Detail of the Cover of the Asunción, with the sculptures of San Simón and San Bartolomé. They are works by Ricardo Bellver from around 1889
Central nave of the Cathedral seen from the Puerta de la Asunción
View of the transept of the cathedral from the door of San Cristóbal. In the background, the silver altar
Vaults of the dome and the transept space of the Cathedral
Main altarpiece, conceived by Pieter Dancart at the end of the 15th century. It is considered the largest altarpiece in Christianity
Image of the Virgen de la Antigua, Gothic image from the 14th century, closely linked to the navigation to America
Tomb of Christopher Columbus, made by Arturo Mérida at the end of the 19th century. It houses the remains of the Admiral since 1902
Sepulcher of Cardinal Cervantes, a masterpiece by Mercadante de Bretaña in 1453. It is one of the first manifestations of Renaissance language in Seville
Chapel of Baptism, with the huge canvas of San Antonio, the work of Murillo. By the same author, it is the magnificent "Baptism of Christ" from the attic of the altarpiece
Sacristy of the Chalices, with the canvas of Saints Justa and Rufina, made by Goya in 1817
View of the Giralda from the Patio de los Naranjos, the former ablution patio of the mosque that preceded the Cathedral
Cristo de la Clemencia, a masterpiece by Juan Martínez Montañés from 1603. He is considered one of the best crucified figures of the Spanish Baroque
Interior of the dome of the Chapter House, built in the second half of the 16th century following a project by Hernán Ruiz II. The pictorial decoration is by Murillo
Interior of the Renaissance dome that covers the Greater Sacristy. This space, the first in the Renaissance style of the Cathedral, was designed by Diego de Riaño in 1528
