Seville Catherdral’s Belltower, La Giralda, and its Weathervane, El Giraldillo:
La Giralda, Seville
La Giralda
La Giralda was built between 1172-98 by the Emir Yaqub al Mansur. The base of the tower was constructed using stones from various Roman monuments, some of which can still be seen on the corner of Calle Placentines.
The Giralda tower is a symbol of the blend of Islamic and Christian cultures. It was formerly the minaret of a Muslim mosque but the original bronze spheres at the top were replaced by Christian symbols in the 14th century. It is topped by a Renaissance belfry and in the 16th century a set of bells was added.
This ancient minaret is actually two towers, one inside the other. A series of ramps fill the space between the two towers which allowed the Sultan to ride up the tower on horseback. Visitors can go to the terrace of La Giralda for a stunning view of Seville, but you’ll have to do this on foot as horses are no longer allowed. Unfortunately, we weren’t there at opening times so we missed the opportunity to climb up.
El Giraldillo
On top of the bell tower of La Giralda is a famous weathervane. It takes the form of a bronze woman dressed in traditional Roman attire. She is the representation of Christian Faith and carries a shield in one hand and a palm leaf in the other. As the bronze statue rotates, both the weathervane and tower were named Giralda, derived from the Spanish word ‘girar‘ meaning ‘to turn‘. These days the tower retains the name Giralda whereas the weather vane is called El Giraldillo.
You can see more photos of La Giralda and Seville Cathedral at Travelsignposts photo gallery HERE.
Opening Times:
July and August: 09:30 – 15:30 (Mon-Sat) and 14:30 – 18:00 (Sundays and public holidays)
September to June: 11:00 – 17:00 (Mon-Sat) and 14:30 – 18:00 (Sundays and public holidays)
Address:
La Giralda
Plaza de la Virgen de Los Reyes
Tel: +34 954 21 49 71
Map of Seville:
41004 Seville, Spain
Take Better Digital Photos eBook
Guerrilla Travel Photography eBook
Leave a Reply