When tourists with children think about what to do in Seville, they usually look for amusement parks or other children's entertainment. But there is one sight in the capital of Andalusia that should be shown to children as well — this is such an important and famous place.
Encyclopedias describe it briefly and succinctly: Seville Cathedral (The Cathedral of Saint Mary of the See) is the largest Gothic cathedral in Europe, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The temple is also the burial place of Christopher Columbus. But even if you do not know about it, the building will amaze you with its majesty and harmonious fusion of different architectural styles.
Like many attractions in Spain, the Maria de la Sede Cathedral (this is its second name) appeared on the site of a mosque. The reconstruction of the Muslim temple began in 1401 and lasted more than a hundred years. Over time, the building was rebuilt, and earthquakes and new architectural trends changed its appearance. But all this miraculously benefited the cathedral; it became more beautiful, unusual and prosperous. We can talk about wealth in the literal sense: it took about 3 tons of gold to finish the altar.
We advise to inspect the Cathedral in Seville from all sides. Its highest part, the Giralda bell tower, has retained the features of a Muslim minaret. The interior courtyard, where orange trees grow, also retains Moorish-style decoration. The facades of the temple are typically Gothic, and in the interior, baroque and neoclassicism are mixed with Gothic.
The cathedral is so lavishly decorated that ornaments, stained-glass windows, sculptures and bas-reliefs can be viewed for hours. The main altar alone consists of 45 carved paintings, and there are 80 more small chapels in the temple, and each one is interesting in its way. Famous Spanish artists, including Bartolome Murillo and Francisco Goya, participated in the design.
But not only the luxury of design is striking, but also the exact size of the building. The cathedral in Seville has a length of 126 meters, a width of 82 meters and a height of 24 to 56 meters, and the bell tower rises to 114 meters. Space, immensity, infinity — these are the words that are best suited to describe the interior.
The temple has several entrances. One of them leads to the tomb of Christopher Columbus. The sad facts of the biography of the navigator are connected with Seville, but after the death of Columbus, the townspeople began to treat him with unprecedented respect. Now there are disputes over whose remains are buried in the cathedral, but one thing is sure: the appearance of the tomb indicates that the Spaniards highly value Columbus.
Of course, trying to take in all the temple's splendour is breathtaking. For a bit of rest, look at the small things presented in the cathedral's treasury. Particularly eye-catching is the golden crown adorned with precious stones and angel figurines. For the figurine of the central angel, a giant pearl is used, the shape of which strikingly resembles the human body.
But what to do if children do not show interest in architectural sights? We advise you to show them that special children's informational brochures with colorful pictures on the cathedral website. With them, pay attention to which architectural elements are typical for the Mudéjar style, Gothic and Baroque.
You can rent an audio guide or ask the staff questions to learn more about the cathedral. The temple also offers guided tours lasting 45-90 minutes. Please note that the most significant number of visitors occurs in the afternoon.
