Giralda

Giralda is the bell tower of Seville Cathedral in Seville, Spain. It originated as the minaret of the Great Mosque of Seville, built in the late 12th century during the Almohad dynasty and completed around 1198. The tower was designed to stand as a prominent landmark for the mosque and features Moorish architectural elements such as brickwork and horseshoe arches. An interior ramp runs from the base to the top, allowing access for a rider to reach the summit.

Following the Christian reconquest, Seville’s mosque was converted into a cathedral in 1248, and the minaret was retained as the cathedral’s bell tower. In the early 16th century, a Renaissance-style bell chamber was added by architect Hernán Ruiz the Younger, giving the tower its current mixed Moorish and Renaissance appearance. At the apex a copper weather vane in the form of a statue, El Giraldillo, was installed in 1568 and serves as a symbol of Faith as well as a weather vane.

The Giralda rises about 104 meters (341 feet) in height; the original Almohad minaret portion accounts for roughly 77 meters of that height. Today it stands as one of Seville’s most recognizable landmarks and is part of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Historic Centre of Seville. The site is open to visitors, with the interior ramp and stairs providing access to views over the city.