About the Seville Cathedral (Catedral de Santa María de la Sede de Sevilla)
If you have been touring Spain for a while, you may feel you have seen enough churches…..but be sure to visit this one! Originally built as a mosque, it was converted to a church after the Reconquista in 1348, when King Ferdinand III captured the city.
It is the largest Gothic Cathedral in the World, and magnificent inside.
The structure still bears signs of the mosque: the bell tower, known as La Giralda, was originally the minaret of the mosque.
The Royal Chapel is a domed Renaissance chapel at the eastern end of Seville Cathedral, built between 1551 and the 1570’s.It serves both as a royal mausoleum and an active place of worship.
It contains the tomb of Christopher Columbus, along with those of Kings Fernand III and Alfonso X.
A note about the tomb of Chrisopher Columbus: Santo Domingo also claims to have his remains, since they were kept there at one time. Recent DNA testing seems to support the claim of Seville as the place where his remains are located. You can read more about that here.
About King Ferdinand III: Ferdinand III of Castile (1199/1201 – May 30, 1252), known as San Fernando or Saint Ferdinand, was King of Castile, León, and Galicia. He is celebrated for his role in the Christian reconquest, including the capture of Seville in 1248, and was canonized in 1671 by Pope Clement X. According to historical accounts, he died of pleurisy, a form of pneumonia, which was considered a natural cause.
His repeated and decisive victories against the Islamic Caliphate earned him the title Athleta Christi, meaning ‘Champion of Christ’, which was conferred upon him by Pope Gregory IX. His death marked the end of a reign defined by major military victories in the Reconquista, including the conquest of Córdoba (1236), Jaén (1246), and Seville (1248). Ferdinand’s tomb is an ornate silver shrine containing his remains, placed in front of the altar. On certain feast days, the urn is opened so the faithful can view the saint-king’s body. San Fernando Cathedral in San Antonio, Texas, is named in honor of King Ferdinand III of Castile.
Alfonso X, along with his wife Beatrice of Swabia are also buried here in the Seville Cathedral.
About Alfonso X: Known as “Alfonso The Wise” he was the son of King Ferdinand III. Alfonso is best remembered as a major patron of learning and culture rather than for political or military success. His court (including Christian, Jewish, and Muslim scholars) produced landmark works in Castilian (helping elevate it as a literary and administrative language), law, history, science, and poetry.
Some of his key achievements include The Siete Partidas(Seven-Part Code), a comprehensive legal compilation influenced by Roman law that shaped Spanish law for centuries; Astronomical works such as the Tablas Alfonsíes (Alfonsine Tables); planetary tables based on Arabic sources and updated with Toledo observations, and historical compilations like the Estoria de España (Primera Crónica General) and the unfinished General Estoria. He is also responsible for “The Cantigas de Santa María”, a large collection of songs (mostly in Galician-Portuguese) praising the Virgin Mary.
Other achievements of Alfonso X include scientific, literary, and recreational texts (e.g., on astronomy, stones, and games).
Traveling to the Seville Cathedral:
The Cathedral is the focal point of the city. Tickets are required to enter, and you may wish to buy them online to avoid the long lines.
Address: Avenida de la Constitución, s/n., 41001 Sevilla
Tel: +34 902 09 96 92
Visit the official website of the Seville Cathedral (there is an English option at the top of the page)