Contact Address:
Avenida  de la Constitución, s/n 41001   Seville (Seville)
Tel. +34 954214971  / Fax +34 954228432  
   
 
It is one of the world's most beautiful Gothic temples
The dimensions of this cathedral make it the third largest church in the world.
The cathedral rises up on the site of the great twelfth century mosque, that nowadays only retains its minaret, also known as the Giralda, thanks to the weathervane that has lain on its peak since the sixteenth century. Likewise, 'Las Abluciones courtyard and the current 'Del Perdón' door are also parts of the old mosque. It was converted into a Christian temple when the city was conquered by Fernando III of Castile in 1248. This stages of construction pass through the Mudejar, Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque periods, an academic period of Neoclassic works, and, finally, a stage during which attempts were made to complete the previous stages, purifying the styles. Entry to cathedral is gained via the Plaza de la Virgen de los Reyes (square). It has five naves (the main one of which measures 36 metres tall) and the main base of the cathedral is rectangular, measuring 116 metres long by 76 metres wide. A maximum height of 40 metres is reached in the cathedral's transept. The main altarpiece was built over a series of different periods, and includes pieces by the brothers Jorge Fernandez Aleman and Alejo Fernandez, Roque Balduque, Pedro Millan, Juan Bautista Vazquez el Viejo and Pedro de Heredia. The Renaissance style chapter room, is from the second half of the sixteenth century. The main sacristy is from the Plateresque era. The remains of Christopher Columbus lie in the cathedral.