The Cathedral

Although I have been to the Cathedral of Sevilla before, this week I went for an official visit with a group from the Center. Also known as La Catedral de Santa María de la Sede de Sevilla, it is the largest Gothic cathedral and the third largest church in the world. (The two larger ones are St. Peter's in Rome and I think a church in London). With the discovery of the Americas, Spain became one of the most important and most wealthy powers of the world, and all the gold Spain received from the new world came directly to Sevilla. Christopher Columbus is actually buried in the cathedral. Because of this influx of wealth, Spain was able to fund projects like grand cathedrals and there was a flourishing of art, culture, and construction in Spain. The cathedral is built on the site of a former mosque, following the capture of Sevilla from the Moors. The builders used some columns and elements from the mosque, most famously the Giralda, a minaret (the tower in a mosque that is used to sound the call to prayer) converted into a bell tower for the cathedral. The Giralda is an important symbol of the city, both now and in the past. The interior of the cathedral itself has beautiful stained glass windows, paintings, and many small chapels. I wish that I could show you how awe-inspiringly huge the cathedral is. It is overwhelming.