The largest Gothic cathedral in the world and third-largest church overall — built on the Great Mosque of Seville, retaining the minaret (now the Giralda bell tower). Christopher Columbus's tomb is inside. The climb up the Giralda ramp (no steps) offers Seville's best city views.
Seville Cathedral, formally the Catedral de Santa María de la Sede, is the largest Gothic cathedral in the world by interior volume and the third-largest church overall, standing at the heart of Seville's historic centre in Andalusia. Construction began in 1401 on the site — and using the foundations — of the Great Mosque of Seville (Aljama Mosque), which had been the principal mosque of the Almohad caliphate before the Christian reconquest of Seville in 1248. The ambition of the project was stated explicitly at the time: Seville's cathedral chapter resolved to build a church so magnificent that posterity would consider those who conceived it to have been mad.
The Gothic nave, one of the widest in the world at 42 metres, was completed by 1506, with the cathedral officially consecrated in 1507. The Giralda tower — originally the minaret of the Almohad mosque, constructed in 1198 in the Almohad style — was retained and converted to a bell tower, with a Renaissance belfry added by architect Hernán Ruiz the Younger in 1568. The Giralda's interior is ascended by 35 graduated ramps rather than stairs, designed to allow the muezzin to ride a horse to the summit for the call to prayer; the ramp system survives intact and forms the principal visitor ascent. The tower stands 104 metres and offers panoramic views over Seville.
The interior contains 80 chapels. The Capilla Mayor holds the largest altarpiece in the world (begun 1482, completed 1564), a gilded retable with 45 carved reliefs depicting the life of Christ, measuring 20 metres wide and 27 metres tall. The tomb of Christopher Columbus, whose remains were transferred from Cuba in 1899, is carried by four gilded pallbearers representing the kingdoms of León, Castile, Navarre, and Aragon. The Sacristía de los Cálices houses paintings by Murillo, Zurbarán, and Goya, including Goya's Santa Justa y Rufina (1817).
The cathedral was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987 alongside the Real Alcázar de Sevilla and the General Archive of the Indies. Major structural restoration addressed cracking in the nave vaulting following a partial tower collapse in 1888; ongoing conservation focuses on the erosion of exterior limestone carvings.
Why it matters
Seville Cathedral, consecrated in 1507 and confirmed as the world's largest Gothic cathedral by interior volume, contains the tomb of Christopher Columbus and was deliberately built on the Great Mosque of Seville to assert Christian dominance following the Reconquista.
Location
37.3861, -5.9926 View on map
Highlights
- The Retablo Mayor — the largest altarpiece in the world, with 45 gilded carved panels depicting the life of Christ, begun in 1482 and completed in 1564
- The Giralda tower — the converted 12th-century Almohad minaret ascended by 35 ramps (no stairs) to panoramic city views at 70 metres
- Tomb of Christopher Columbus — the explorer's remains returned from Cuba in 1899, carried by four gilded pallbearers representing León, Castile, Navarre, and Aragon
- Sacristía de los Cálices — paintings by Murillo, Zurbarán, and Goya including Goya's Santa Justa y Rufina (1817)
- The Patio de los Naranjos — the former ablutions court of the Almohad mosque, with orange trees planted in the original medieval rows
Tips for visiting
- Monday afternoon free entry (4:30–6 PM, last entrance 5:30 PM) is popular — arrive by 4 PM to join the queue; the main nave is fully accessible during this period.
- Climb the Giralda first (enter via the Puerta del Perdón on the north side) before visiting the cathedral interior — the ramp rather than stairs makes it accessible for most visitors.
- The sacristy paintings by Goya and Zurbarán are in the Sacristía de los Cálices — allocate time specifically for this room after the main altarpiece.
- Book timed entry tickets online at catedraldesevilla.es to bypass the entrance queue, which can exceed 45 minutes in peak season.
- The Patio de los Naranjos is free to enter through the north gate — a way to see the mosque's ablutions court without paying full cathedral admission.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Seville Cathedral accessible to visitors in English?
All major exhibits are labelled in Spanish and English. An official audio guide is available in English at the entrance. Licensed English-speaking guides operate inside the cathedral daily.
How long does a full visit take?
The main nave, altarpiece, Columbus tomb, sacristy paintings, and Giralda tower typically require 1.5 to 2 hours. The Giralda ramp alone takes 15 to 20 minutes each way.
Is the Giralda tower accessible with limited mobility?
The Giralda is ascended entirely by 35 graduated ramps with no stairs and is accessible to most visitors including those using wheelchairs or prams; the ramp width is approximately 2 metres.
When is free entry to the cathedral available?
The cathedral offers free entry on Monday afternoons from 4:30 PM to 6 PM (last entrance 5:30 PM). This applies to the main building including the Giralda tower.