The Giralda Tower in Seville, how to visit and climb to the top
Seville has been a place of great tradition, union of cultures and city where you have raised some of the most emblematic buildings of Spain. Among them there was a tower in its time was considered the highest in Europe. The Giralda Tower in Seville is one of those monuments with renowned city still retains.
The bell tower of the Cathedral of St. Mary of Seville is visited each year by thousands of tourists. If you visit Sevilla we recommend you go, you will not disappoint.
History of the Giralda in Seville
Birth and inauguration dates back to the year 1182, where the Almohad tower was opened as a mosque inspired by Rabat and Marrakech towers that are still standing. When in 1195 the troops of the Almohad Empire defeated the Castilian army at the Battle of Alarcos, to honor the victory of the battle ended the minaret.
The tower has more than 80 meters high with Arab finishes. During its history it had great changes, for example when in 1248 it becomes a cathedral after the Christian conquest. In 1365 the Giralda in Seville was hit by an earthquake that caused damage to its structure, transforming its top. After the sixteenth century Spanish Renaissance architect Hernán Ruiz Jimenez, he reshuffled the cathedral, adding a bell and giving it a more aesthetic finish to the tower. This last body of the tower was incorporated a statue of a woman 4 meters high representing “the victorious faith”, which he was then called, “Giraldillo”, giving the name to the monument.
Architecture, structure and spaces
The classical structure of Giralda is inspired almohades alminares, comprising a square base and surrounded by external walls that hold together the tower. Its construction began in stone only to be finished in brick. At its base you can appreciate the simple materials used.
Inside the Giralda in Seville it does not have much to show, without great ornaments or ornaments, although its exterior decoration shows a design worthy to appreciate. The bricks were used shaped the netting decorating the walls of the tower and intersecting arches form the top of the tower. Today the tower is 101 meters high together with Giraldillo statue, and is the second tallest building in the city just behind Sevilla Tower, a skyscraper of 178 meters high.
Visit the Giralda in Seville
Giralda visit when in Seville is definitely something worth doing. It is undoubtedly in the upper area where you can see the city from another perspective. The visitable monument zone, comes after climbing the 35 ramps that we cross to take us to the last 17 steps of the tower that will give us the views we seek. From the Plaza Virgen de los Reyes, one can see the sculpture Maiden 4 meters high. The giant statue worthy of admiration sees us from the heights of the Giralda in Seville.
Tomb of Christopher Columbus
The discoverer of America today rests in the Cathedral of Santa Maria de Sevilla, is said to be the remains of the navigator went from place to place until you reach the town after almost 400 years after his death.
Choir and altar
Gothic cathedral of the city also presents the Choir and the Altarpiece of the chapel as some of the key points of the site. The altarpiece lies in the central part of the main chapel occupying the site where the ceremonies are performed and is considered the largest in Christendom. The sculptor Pieter Dancart, got an altarpiece of almost 30 meters high by 20 meters wide and it was with that began to perform the works of the ship for at the least a century. The set of the tableau was completed in 1564, after passing through the hands of sculptors added and shaped reliefs 44 and the 200 holy figures seen in the hood. In the bodies of the tableau you can be seen all figures of holy representations as the birth of Christ, the virgin birth, the crown of thorns, among others. The choir is in the central nave of the Cathedral and is formed by a masonry composed of two bodies containing 117 stalls carved in wood.
Climb the Giralda in Seville
The rise although not easy, is actually recommended. Climb the Giralda in Seville is one of the most rewarding experiences you can do on your trip to Sevilla. You can climb to the Giralda in the entrance that pulls out for the Cathedral of St. Mary of the See of Seville, its interior is not too flashy so the views will be their strong point.
Curiosities of the Giralda
Don Quijote mentioned in several of its chapters to the city and mentions the Giralda in Seville as a brave and strong giantess, made of bronze challenged by order of his love. The large width of the ramps that allowed the sultan could climb them on horseback to watch from above its territory. There is a significant amount of Giraldas in the world. Replicas of the tower became so popular that we have crossed some insurance without having been in Seville. Since the structure and design of the Giralda was used in many other monuments worldwide. T
he Giralda in Seville has within 24 bells that are programmed by computer to accurately give the chimes every hour. Believe it or not, the monument of the Giralda is higher than Big Ben in London, which measures 96 meters high and doubles in size to the Tower of Pisa in Italy.
Useful information on the Giralda in Seville
To visit the Giralda keep in mind that is not allowed to pass disabled for security reasons. (The use of wheelchairs is prohibited). Caution is recommended for people who suffer from illness or disorders such as vertigo, claustrophobia, anemia, dizziness, respiratory or heart problems. Failure to comply with the general rules imposed by the competent authorities of the place, will not authorizing the entry or expulsion of the Giralda in Seville and the Cathedral. Religious cults and cultural activities can prevent visits by tourists to different areas of the site without notice.
Ticket prices
The entry price includes the visit of the Gothic cathedral, with which we can climb the Giralda and inspect other areas like the sacristy, the chapter house Renaissance, among others. Tickets are general and will cost € 9 per person. There is a reduced ticket for 4 € and can be purchased by pensioners, unemployed and students up to 25 years. You can access the Giralda in Seville FREE if you are a resident of the city of Seville, under 14, disabled with higher grade to 65%, or unemployed, each with its certification document. On the other hand the only entrance to the Church of El Salvador has a value of 4 € and includes a free audio guide. prior accreditation by an official document is needed.
Times
The Cathedral will open on Monday from 11:00 to 15:30, Tuesday to Saturday from 11:00 to 17:00 and Sunday from 14:30 to 18:00. Since July and August you can enter (except 17 and 25 July) on Mondays: from 10:30 to 16:00, Tuesday to Saturday from 10:30: to 18:00 and Sunday from 14:00 19:00. The enclosure is closed on: January 1, January 6 and 25 December. You will also have a reduced schedule for special times daily January 5, 24 and 31 December from 11:00 to 13:00. Free hours are Monday from 16:30 to 18:00.
How to get to the Giralda in Seville?
Reaching the Giralda in Seville is very simple, since it is in the center of the city of Sevilla. You can walk from any point of the city and the tower is visible from afar and is very popular in the area. In Seville metro: Line 1: Station Puerta de Jerez. By bus: take the lines C4, C3, 5, 41, 42, C1 and C2, Station: Jardines de Cristina. Take vehicle access: A66 north to A92 south, A4 west and east.
