The Cathedral of Saint Mary of the See, better known as Seville Cathedral, is a
Roman Catholic cathedral in Seville. It is the largest Gothic cathedral and the
third-largest church in the world. It is also the largest cathedral in the world,
as the two larger churches, the Basilica of the National Shrine of Our Lady of
Aparecida and St Peter's Basilica, are not the seats of bishops. It was
registered in 1987 by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, along with the Alcázar
palace complex and the General Archive of the Indies. "See" refers to the
Episcopal see, i.e., the bishop's ecclesiastical jurisdiction.
After its completion in the early 16th century, the Seville Cathedral
supplanted Hagia Sophia as the largest cathedral in the world, a title the
Byzantine church had held for nearly a thousand years. The cathedral is also
the burial site of Christopher Columbus. The Archbishop's Palace is located on
the northeastern side of the cathedral. Description
Seville Cathedral was built to demonstrate the city's wealth, as it had
become a major trading center in the years after the Reconquista in 1248. In
July 1401 it was decided to build a new cathedral. According to local oral
tradition, the members of the cathedral chapter said: "Hagamos una Iglesia tan
hermosa y tan grandiosa que los que la vieren labrada nos tengan por locos".
Construction began in 1402 and continued until 1506. The clergy of the parish
gave half their stipends to pay for architects, artists, stained glass
artisans, masons, carvers, craftsman and labourers and other expenses.
Five years after construction ended, in 1511, the dome collapsed and work on the
cathedral recommenced. The dome again collapsed in 1888, and work was still
being performed on the dome until at least 1903. The 1888 collapse occurred
due to an earthquake and resulted in the destruction of "every precious object
below" the dome at that time. The interior has the longest nave of any
cathedral in Spain. The central nave rises to a height of 42 meters and is
lavishly decorated with a large quantity of gilding. In the main body of the
cathedral, the most noticeable features are the great boxlike choir loft, which
fills the central portion of the nave, and the vast Gothic retablo of carved
scenes from the life of Christ. This altarpiece was the lifetime work of a
single craftsman, Pierre Dancart. The builders used some columns and other
elements from the ancient mosque, including its minaret, which was
converted into a bell tower known as La Giralda, now the city's most well-known
symbol. Giralda
The Giralda is the bell tower of the Cathedral of Seville. Its height is 343
feet, and its square base is 23 feet above sea level and 44 feet long per
side. The Giralda is the former minaret of the mosque that stood on the site
under Muslim rule, and was built to resemble the minaret of the Koutoubia
Mosque in Marrakech, Morocco. It was converted into a bell tower for the
cathedral after the Reconquista, although the topmost section dates from
the Renaissance. It was registered in 1987 as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
The tower is 104.1 m in height and was one of the most important symbols in the
medieval city. Construction began in 1184 under the direction of architect
Ben Ahmad Baso. According to the chronicler Ibn Sahib al-Salah, the works
were completed on 10 March 1198, with the placement of four gilt bronze balls
in the top section of the tower. After a strong earthquake in 1365, the spheres
were missing. In the 16th century the belfry was added by the architect Hernán
Ruiz the Younger; the statue on its top, called "El Giraldillo", was installed in
1568 to represent the triumph of the Christian faith.
Doors Seville Cathedral has fifteen doors on
its four facades. The major doors are: = West facade=
The Door of Baptism, on the left side, was built in the 15th century and
decorated with a scene depicting the baptism of Jesus, created by the
workshop of Lorenzo Mercadante of Britain. It is of Gothic style with a
pointed archivolt decorated with tracery. It contains sculptures of the
brothers Saint Isidore and Saint Leander and the sisters Saints Justa and Rufina,
by Lorenzo Mecadante, also a series of angels and prophets by the artisan Pedro
Millán. The Main Door or Door of Assumption, in the center of the west
facade, is well-preserved and elaborately decorated. Cardinal
Cienfuegos y Jovellanos commissioned the artist Ricardo Bellver to carve the
relief of the Assumption over the door; it was executed between 1877 and 1898.
The Door of Saint Michael or Door of the Nativity, has sculptures representing
the birth of Jesus by Pedro Millan. It was built in the 15th century and is
decorated with terracotta sculptures of Saint Laurean, Saint Hermengild and the
Four Evangelists. Today, this door is used for the Holy Week processions.
= South facade= The Door of Saint Cristopher or De la
Lonja of the south transept, was designed by Adolfo Fernandez Casanova
and completed in 1917; it was originally designed by the architect Demetrio de
los Rios in 1866. A replica of the "Giraldillo" stands in front of its
gate. = North facade=
The Door of the Conception, opens onto the Court of the Oranges and is kept
closed except on festival days. It was designed by Demetrio de los Rios and
finished by Adolfo Fernandez Casanova in 1895. It was built in the Gothic style
to harmonize with the rest of the building.
The Door of the Lizard leads from the Court of the Oranges; it is named for
the stuffed crocodile hanging from the ceiling.
The Door of the Sanctuary provides access to the sanctuary. Designed by
Pedro Sanchez Falconete in the last third of the 17th century, it is framed
by Corinthian columns with a sculpture on top representing King Ferdinand III
of Castile next to the Saints Isidore, Leander, Justa and Rufina.
Door of Forgiveness. This door gives access to the Patio de los Naranjos from
Calle Alemanes and therefore is not really a door of the cathedral. It
belonged to the ancient mosque and retains its horseshoe arch shape from
that time. In the early 16th century it was adorned with terracotta sculptures
by the sculptor Miguel Perrin, highlighting the great relief of the
Purification on the entrance arch. The plaster ornaments were made by Bartolomé
López. = East facade=
The Door of Sticks or the Adoration of the Magi, decorated with sculptures by
Lope Marin in 1548, has a relief of the Adoration of the Magi at the top,
executed by Miguel Perrin in 1520. The name "Palos" or "Sticks" is due to the
wooden railing which separates that area from the rest of the building.
Door of the Bells, so named because at the time of its construction the bells
to call the workers were rung there. The Renaissance sculptures and the relief on
the tympanum representing Christ's Entry into Jerusalem were made by Lope Marin
in 1548. Chapels
The cathedral has 80 chapels, in which 500 masses were said daily as reported
in 1896. The baptistery Chapel of Saint Anthony contains the painting of The
Vision of St. Anthony by Bartolomé Esteban Murillo. In November 1874, it
was discovered that thieves had cut out the portion depicting Saint Anthony.
Then in January 1875, a Spanish immigrant attempted to sell the same
fragment to a New York City art gallery. The man stated it was a complete
original by Murillo, Saint Anthony being one of the artist's favorite subjects.
The owner of the gallery, Hermann Schaus, negotiated a price of $250 and
contacted the Spanish consulate. Upon securing the sale, Schaus sent it to the
Spanish Consulate, which shipped it to Seville via Havana and Cadiz.
Timeline 1184 - Construction of the Almohad
Mosque begun 1198 - Completion of the Mosque
1248 - Conquest of Seville by Ferdinand III, the mosque Christianized
1376 - Earthquake destroys minaret, replaced by bell gable
1401 - Decision made to replace former mosque
1402 - Nave begun- SW corner 1432 - Nave completed, east end started
1466 - Demolition of Royal Chapel authorized by Juan II of Castile
1467 - East end completed, vaults begun. Anchors added.
1475 - Stalls begun 1478 - Stalls completed
1481 - Doorways in high altar completed 1482 - Retablo begun
1498 - Vaults completed, lantern begun* 1506 - Main dome completed
1511 - Lantern collapses, rebuilding begins
1515 - New choir vaults completed* 1517 - New transept vaults completed*
1519 - Lantern rebuilding completed 1526 - Retablo Mayor completed
1551 - Capilla Real begun 1558 - Belfry replaces bell gable
1568 - Giralda, top stages 1575 - Capilla Real completed
1888 - Main dome and vaults collapse 1934 - Eduard Torres, priest and
long-time choirmaster, dies 1995 - Infanta Elena of Spain, the elder
daughter of King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofía, married Jaime de Maricharlar in
the Cathedral. Burials
Christopher Columbus Ferdinand Columbus
Fernando III of Castile Elisabeth of Hohenstaufen
Alfonso X of Castile Pedro I of Castile
See also 12 Treasures of Spain
Gallery References
Sources John Harvey, The Cathedrals of Spain
Luis Martinez Montiel, The Cathedral of Seville
External links Interactive 360° panorama from Plaza del
Triunfo with Cathedral, Alcázar and Archivo General de Indias
Website with detailed information about Seville Cathedral
Website showcasing sacred destinations including Seville Cathedral
UNESCO list of World Heritage Monuments City Guide Website of Andalucia with
information about Seville Cathedral Information on Seville_Cathedral
Detials of Seville Cathedral as a national monument of Spain
Travel Guide information regarding Seville Cathedral
Great Building Website with details about Seville Cathedral
Images pertaining to Seville Cathedral Bluffton University images and details
pertaining to Catedral de Sevilla