The grand Cathedral

As you begin to walk around the heart of Sevilla, you are immediately met with this grand object- the largest Gothic cathedral and the fourth largest Christian cathedral in the world. From almost anywhere in the downtown area, the top of Catedral de Santa María de la Sede can be seen- its large steeples, chapels and 42 ft nave reaching up into the usually bright blue skys- creating one of the most picturesque sights in all of Sevilla.

Inside is just as gorgeous- and even though I'm no art historian, the interior looked striking with the lavish altar decorated in bright colors and a large quantity of gold. I guess it makes sense that Sevilla built this sanctuary to demonstrate how rich they were- it certainly looks first class inside!

The Cathedral is opened daily for visitors to explore, but on Sundays, you won't be able to get in until after 2:30 because of morning services.

Cathedral, Alcázar and Archivo de Indias in Seville

Together these three buildings form a remarkable monumental complex in the heart of Seville. The cathedral and the Alcázar – dating from the Reconquest of 1248 to the 16th century and imbued with Moorish influences – are an exceptional testimony to the civilization of the Almohads as well as that of Christian Andalusia. The Giralda minaret is the masterpiece of Almohad architecture. It stands next to the cathedral with its five naves; the largest Gothic building in Europe, it houses the tomb of Christopher Columbus. The ancient Lonja, which became the Archivo de Indias, contains valuable documents from the archives of the colonies in the Americas.

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