¡Vamos a ir a las iglesias!

Let's go to see the churches!

To avoid the line at the cathedral in Sevilla, we purchased a combo ticket to see The Iglesia del Salvador and the Cathedral of Saint Mary of the See, better known as the Sevilla Cathedral. 


Sevilla Cathedral (photo courtesy of Thomas Weyrauch)

Once again, my best opportunity for a photo of the cathedral was prevented by scaffolding. I have added a photo by a fellow named Thomas Weyrauch. The cathedral was started in 1401 after the Moors were driven from Spain. The construction took more than 100 years, and the result is the world's largest Gothic cathedral.

Of course one cannot forget La Giralda.


 La Giralda


 La Giralda

La Giralda is the bell tower of the Cathedral. It was originally built as the minaret for the Great Mosque of Sevilla in Moorish Spain. A Renaissance-style top was added by the Catholics after the expulsion of the Muslims from the area.

The main areas in the cathedral are without a doubt very impressive. I only wish that the crowds of tourists were smaller. 


The high altar

The high altar is protected by a wrought iron barrier. The altar piece, retablo mayor, is 65 feet tall with 44 scenes from the life of Jesus and Mary. It is carved from walnut and covered with a thick layer of gold leaf. The 44 scenes start with the birth of Christ and continue through his death and ascension.


Tomb of Columbus

Christopher Columbus, Cristóbal Colón, did get a lot of help from the Spanish monarchs. Without them he would not have sailed west in search of the east. It is uncertain as to the authenticity of the remains in the tomb. Columbus' remains were buried in a couple of places in Spain, the Dominican Republic, and Cuba before returning to Sevilla. You can choose to believe that the remains are here or not. The tomb is impressive.

Here are a few images from the interior of the cathedral.


 one of many domes




Some paintings in the cathedral by Bartolomé Murillo. Some are originals and some are copies. More on Murillo in future postings. 



We plan to visit the cathedral again. The next time, I will ascend La Giralda looking for photo ops.

And last but not least, the Iglesia del Salvador. The site on which this church stands was a mosque that was consecrated as a Catholic church when the Moors were driven from Spain. In the late 1600s the mosque/church fell into disrepair and a new church was constructed. It was completed in 1712. It is worth a visit if you find yourself in Sevilla.


Iglesia del Salvador

PS: Bartolomé Murillo was the son of a barber in Sevilla.  

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