Reward yourself with sensational views of the city from the Giralda bell tower located inside of Seville’s Cathedral. Awarded the World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1987, along with the Cathedral and archives, the tower is stands 342 feet in height and remains as one of the most important symbols of the city since the medieval era, housing a total of 24 bells.
Constructed between 1184 and 1198 as the minaret for the Great Mosque of Seville during the Almohad dynasty, this slender tower predates the “newer” Gothic cathedral by 300 years featuring a Renaissance style top added by the Spanish conquistadors after the Muslim expulsion. Located in the northeast corner of the cathedral, climb up 35 ramps originally used for guards on horseback with a smaller flight of stairs to reach the top. Highlights of the Giralda include the mighty bell tower, the monumental tomb of Christopher Columbus, and the Capilla Mayor with an astonishing gold altarpiece.
