Seville Cathedral facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Seville Cathedral |
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| Cathedral of Saint Mary of the See Catedral de Santa María de la Sede |
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View of the southeastern side of the Cathedral
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| Location | Seville |
| Country | Spain |
| Denomination | Catholic Church |
| History | |
| Status | Cathedral |
| Consecrated | 1507 |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Gothic, Moorish, and Renaissance |
| Groundbreaking | 1402 |
| Completed | 1519 |
| Specifications | |
| Length | 135 m (443 ft) |
| Width | 100 m (330 ft) |
| Nave width | 15 m (49 ft) |
| Height | 42 m (138 ft) |
| Number of spires | 1 |
| Spire height | 105 m (344 ft) |
| Administration | |
| Archdiocese | Seville |
The Cathedral of Saint Mary of the See, also known as Seville Cathedral, is a huge Catholic church in Seville, Spain. It is one of the largest churches in the world. It is also the biggest Gothic church ever built. In 1987, UNESCO named it a World Heritage Site. This means it's a very important place for everyone to protect. The nearby Alcázar palace and the General Archive of the Indies are also part of this site.
When it was finished in the early 1500s, Seville Cathedral became the largest cathedral in the world. It took this title from Hagia Sophia, a famous church that had held the record for a thousand years. The Gothic part of the cathedral is 126 m (413 ft) long and 76 m (249 ft) wide. Its highest point inside reaches 42 m (138 ft). The famous Giralda tower stands 104.5 m (342 ft 10 in) tall from the ground.
Many important historical events happened here. In 1478, Prince Juan of Aragon was baptized in the cathedral. He was the only son of the famous Catholic Monarchs Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella I of Castile. The Royal Chapel inside holds the remains of King Ferdinand III of Castile, who conquered Seville. His son, Alfonso the Wise, and King Peter the Cruel are also buried there. You can also find the tombs of Christopher Columbus and his son Diego in the cathedral.
Contents
Building the Cathedral: A Long History
From Mosque to Church: Early Days (1172–1401)
The story of Seville Cathedral begins with a mosque. In 1172, the Almohad ruler Abu Yaqub Yusuf ordered a large mosque to be built in Seville. This new mosque was finished in 1198. It was much bigger than the city's old mosque. The mosque was designed by architect Ahmad ben Basso. It was a huge rectangular building, about 113-by-135-metre (371 ft × 443 ft), with a large courtyard and a tall minaret.
In 1248, King Ferdinand III conquered Seville. The mosque was then changed into a Christian cathedral. Its direction was changed, and new walls and decorations were added for Christian worship. Over time, the inside was divided into many chapels. The eastern part of the cathedral was used for the royal chapel. This chapel held the bodies of King Ferdinand and other important royal figures.
The Grand Gothic Cathedral (After 1401)
Seville was a very rich trading city after the Reconquista (the Christian reconquest of Spain). In 1401, the city leaders decided to build a new, even grander cathedral. They wanted it to show off the city's wealth. Local stories say they wanted to build a church "so beautiful and so grand that those who see it finished will take us for mad."
Work on the new cathedral began around 1402 and lasted for over a century. Building such a massive church took a lot of effort and money. The clergy (church leaders) even gave half of their salaries to pay for the project. Many skilled workers were needed, including architects, artists, masons, and stained glass makers.
Several architects from different countries worked on the cathedral. A Dutch master named Ysambert was in charge in 1434. Later, a French master named Carlín took over. The eastern part of the cathedral was completed by 1467. The beautiful stained glass windows were made after 1478. A huge altarpiece, designed by Pieter Dancart, was started in 1482.
The main construction of the Gothic cathedral was mostly finished by 1506–1507. However, in 1511, the central part of the roof and some vaults collapsed. This meant they had to rebuild that section. The new central roof, with its fancy design, was completed in 1519. The altarpiece was fully finished much later, between 1550 and 1594. After the Gothic cathedral was done, more parts were added in Renaissance and Plateresque styles as Seville continued to grow.
In 1888, the central roof collapsed again due to an earthquake. This caused damage to many valuable objects inside. Reconstruction continued until at least 1903.
What Does Seville Cathedral Look Like Inside?
The inside of Seville Cathedral is truly massive. It has the longest main aisle (nave) of any cathedral in Spain. This central aisle reaches a height of 42 m (138 ft). Two of the most striking features inside are the large choir area in the middle of the nave and the huge Gothic altarpiece. This altarpiece is carved with many scenes from the life of Christ.
The builders kept some parts from the old mosque. The mosque's sahn, which was a courtyard for washing before prayer, is now called the Patio de los Naranjos (Courtyard of the Orange Trees). It has a fountain and many orange trees. But the most famous part kept from the mosque is its minaret. This tall tower was turned into a bell tower and is now known as the Giralda. It is a famous symbol of Seville.
The Giralda Tower
The Giralda is the bell tower of Seville Cathedral. It stands 343 ft (105 m) tall. Its base is square, measuring 44 ft (13 m) on each side. The Giralda was originally the minaret of the mosque that stood here when Muslims ruled Seville. It was built to look like the minaret of the Koutoubia Mosque in Marrakech, Morocco.
After the Christians took over, the minaret was changed into a bell tower for the cathedral. The very top part of the tower was added during the Renaissance period. The Giralda was also named a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1987.
Construction of the tower began in 1184. It was finished in 1198, when four golden bronze balls were placed at the very top. However, these balls were lost after a strong earthquake in 1365. In the 1500s, a belfry (the part that holds the bells) was added. A statue called "El Giraldillo" was placed on top in 1568. This statue represents the triumph of the Christian faith.
The Cathedral's Doors
Seville Cathedral has fifteen doors on its four sides. Each door has its own unique design and history.
Doors on the West Side
- The Door of Baptism: This door is on the left side and was built in the 1400s. It shows a scene of Jesus being baptized. The sculptures were made by artists like Lorenzo Mercadante. It has a Gothic style with pointed arches.
- The Main Door or Door of Assumption: Located in the center of the west side, this door is very detailed. The relief above the door, showing the Assumption of Mary, was carved by Ricardo Bellver between 1877 and 1898.
- The Door of Saint Michael or Door of the Nativity: This door has sculptures showing the birth of Jesus. It was also built in the 1400s. Today, this door is used for the Holy Week parades.
Doors on the South Side
- The Door of Saint Cristopher or De la Lonja: This door was designed in the late 1800s and finished in 1917. A copy of the "Giraldillo" statue stands in front of it.
Doors on the North Side
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- The Door of the Conception: This door opens into the Court of the Oranges. It is usually closed and only opened on special festival days. It was designed in a Gothic style to match the rest of the cathedral.
- The Door of the Lizard: This door also leads from the Court of the Oranges. It gets its name from a stuffed crocodile hanging from the ceiling inside!
- The Door of the Sanctuary: This door leads to the sanctuary area. It was designed in the late 1600s. It has columns and sculptures of King Ferdinand III of Castile and other saints.
- Door of Forgiveness: This door leads to the Patio de los Naranjos (Patio of the Oranges) from the street. It was part of the old mosque and still has its original horseshoe arch shape. It was decorated with terracotta sculptures in the early 1500s.
Doors on the East Side
- The Door of Sticks or the Adoration of the Magi: This door has sculptures from 1548 and a relief showing the Adoration of the Magi. It's called "Sticks" because of a wooden railing nearby.
- Door of the Bells: This door got its name because bells were rung here to call workers during its construction. It has Renaissance sculptures and a relief showing Christ's Entry into Jerusalem.
Chapels Inside
The cathedral has 80 chapels! One of the most famous is the Capilla Real (Royal Chapel). In the Chapel of Saint Anthony, you can see a famous painting called The Vision of St. Anthony by Bartolomé Esteban Murillo. In 1874, thieves cut out a part of this painting. But luckily, it was found and returned to the cathedral in 1875 and put back together.
The Organs
The cathedral has two large organs. The original organs were damaged in the 1888 earthquake. New twin organs were installed between 1901 and 1903. These organs were later updated in 1973 to be played electrically. In 1996, they were further improved to sound even better.
Important Dates in the Cathedral's History
- 1184: Building of the Almohad mosque begins.
- 1198: The mosque is completed.
- 1248: Seville is conquered by Ferdinand III, and the mosque becomes a Christian church.
- 1356 and 1362: Earthquakes damage the minaret.
- 1401: Decision is made to build a new, grander cathedral.
- 1402: Construction of the new nave begins.
- 1467: The eastern part of the cathedral is completed.
- 1482: The famous altarpiece is started.
- 1506: The main dome (lantern) is completed.
- 1511: The lantern collapses, and rebuilding starts.
- 1519: The rebuilding of the lantern is finished.
- 1526: The altarpiece is completed.
- 1568: The top stages of the Giralda tower are finished.
- 1888: The main dome and vaults collapse due to an earthquake.
Burials
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Many important people are buried in Seville Cathedral, including:
- Christopher Columbus
- Ferdinand Columbus (Christopher Columbus's son)
- Fernando III of Castile (King of Castile)
- Elisabeth of Hohenstaufen (Queen of Castile)
- Alfonso X of Castile (King of Castile)
- Pedro I of Castile (King of Castile)
- María de Padilla (Pedro I's mistress)
Images for kids
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Seville Cathedral.
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Seville Cathedral.
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Exterior of the cathedral (south view).
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View from inside La Giralda.
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Façade of the cathedral.
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Giralda as seen from the outside wall of the Patio de los Naranjos.
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Giralda from Plaza Virgen de Los Reyes.
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Cathedral roofs and the Garden as seen from the Giralda.
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Choir
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The Silver Altar.
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Inside the cathedral.
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Relics.
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Pierre Dancart's masterpiece, considered one of the finest altarpieces in the world.
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Montañés' Cristo de los Cálices (1603), located in the Sacristy.
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Collapse caused by earthquake, 1 August 1888.
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Inside the cathedral
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Details of vaults in front of main chapel
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The elliptical Renaissance dome of the chapterhouse
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See also
In Spanish: Catedral de Sevilla para niños
- 12 Treasures of Spain
- History of early modern period domes
