Seville Cathedral and La Giralda

Seville Cathedral, officially the Cathedral of Saint Mary of the See, is the largest Gothic cathedral in the world and ranks among the largest churches of any kind. Work began in the early fifteenth century on the site of the city's great Almohad mosque, and the chapter is said to have wanted a building so large that later generations would think them mad. It was UNESCO-listed in 1987 together with the Real Alcázar of Seville and the Archive of the Indies, both a few steps away. Much of the mosque survived, including the courtyard of orange trees, the Patio de los Naranjos, and the tower.

The Giralda began as the mosque's minaret, built in the late twelfth century in brick with the characteristic Almohad lattice of blind arches. After the Christian conquest it became the cathedral's bell tower, and in the sixteenth century a Renaissance belfry was added on top, crowned by a bronze figure of Faith that turns with the wind and gave the tower its name. Because the minaret was designed so that a rider could go up on horseback, the interior has 34 wide ramps rather than stairs, and only the last stretch is stepped. The climb is long but gentle, and the viewpoint looks across the rooftops, bell towers and orange trees of the old city.

Inside, the scale is the first thing you notice. Five naves, soaring vaults and dozens of side chapels give a sense of sheer volume. The main chapel holds an enormous gilded altarpiece, among the largest in Christendom, carved in wood over several decades. Near the south transept stands the monumental tomb associated with Christopher Columbus, carried on the shoulders of four figures representing the old kingdoms of Castile, Leon, Aragon and Navarre. The treasury and the sacristies display silver, paintings and reliquaries.

Practically, this is one of the busiest sights in Andalusia, so planning matters. Official ticket sales online let you choose a time, and mornings are quieter than midday. The cathedral is an active place of worship, so shoulders and knees should be covered, and some areas close for services. The Barrio Santa Cruz begins on the doorstep, and the Real Alcázar and Archivo de Indias are across the square.

It suits history and architecture lovers, families who like climbing a tower, and anyone wanting to understand how Seville's Islamic and Christian pasts are physically layered in a single block of the city. Set aside two hours for the cathedral and tower together.