Cathedral of Seville: description, history and interesting facts

About Seville, the capital of Andalusia, which is in Spain, they say that it was founded by the ancient Greek mythical hero Hercules. A beautiful city and magnificent monuments of culture, art and religion, which always attract the attention of hundreds of thousands of tourists from all over the world.

That's the cathedral of Seville (Spain) also striking with its magnificence. The full official name, which bears the cathedral, is Santa Maria de la Sede.

History of construction of the cathedral

This temple was built not in an empty place, but where there was a mosque in the times of the Reconquista.

In the ninth century, the Caliph of Cordoba ordered in Seville to place a mosque for a large number of believers. A huge white building was erected over several centuries. But it so happened that the mosque was badly damaged during earthquakes. After the end of the reconquest, when the Christians were able to reconquer the terrain from the Arab caliphate, they decided to build a cathedral here. But by the time of perestroika the mosque remained in complete desolation and ruin. But the building material, left from it, was used in the construction of the Christian cathedral. It was built during the entire fifteenth century, and construction in the nineteenth year of the sixteenth century ended.

The Cathedral of Seville Cathedral occupies a large enough area. Namely: more than a hundred meters in length and almost a hundred in width. This is the largest Gothic cathedral in the world , which was achieved both due to the area, and due to the height. Guests are always amazed at the size of it, but still it does not reach the area of the mosque once standing on this site. Precisely because it was built on the remnants of a Muslim cathedral, it differs from all the temples of Europe in that it has a rectangular hall. In combination with the light decision, height, size it gives the cathedral visitor a unique feeling of infinite space.

Description of the famous landmark

Due to the fact that the cathedral of Seville was built for many years, he absorbed several architectural styles, which, however, quite harmoniously combined with each other. Because of the many buildings surrounding the cathedral, only the facade of the building is visible from the street. But if you enter, it strikes with the play of light. From inside, the cathedral shimmers with multicolored rays. The windows with colored stained glass windows are as many as seventy-five. They are considered the best in Europe. Created these windows by Christopher Alemann.

Chapel

The Cathedral of Seville Cathedral has five side extensions and a huge main chapel. Especially in it attracts the eye of the flaming vault. Looking behind the openwork grille of the chapel, which itself surprises with exquisite splendor, the guests can see a retabil consisting of forty-five figures. In the niches of the iconostasis are sculptures on the subjects of the Gospel. The authors of the retaliation were Flemish Dunkart, who created the sculpture of the Madonna, the Spanish sculptor Jorge Fernandez. Painting was done by Alejo Fernandez.

In the cathedral is the royal tomb. Here lie the remains of the Spanish Alphonse X the Wise and Pedro I of the Cruel.

In the center, in a niche, eight pilasters were arranged, between which is a carved wooden figure of larch. It is decorated with jewels. The figure symbolizes the patroness of the city. Once it was made with the addition of a mechanism that rotated the head and moved the hands, but it broke.

The cathedral is richly decorated with paintings by famous artists such as Velazquez and Murillo. In addition, it stores many expensive ornaments, historical and holy relics. The cross of the cathedral was cast from gold, which Columbus himself brought from America. In the temple are stored relics, which according to some statements belong to the navigator himself, on the other - his son Diego. This mysterious story is surrounded by the secret of Seville Cathedral. Seville is proud of this and is happy to share the knowledge of the great traveler with the guests of the city.

Bell tower

The belfry is next door. It reaches a height of more than a hundred meters and is decorated with beautiful patterns and ornaments. The belfry is part of the former mosque, or more precisely, its minaret, and is an older structure. It was built in the beginning of the eleventh century. But as a minaret it was much smaller, its height in those days was only eighty-two meters. The remaining thirty-two meters were completed already in the sixteenth century. This bell tower is called "Giralda".

In addition, the mosque has preserved such buildings as the "Gate of Forgiveness", behind them the Orange courtyard and the fountain.

Sacristy Mayor and the altar

The Cathedral of Seville is also interesting because it is in its vaults. Thus, Sacristy Major surprises with the masterpieces of Spanish painters. The main sacristy is adorned with a large silver tabernacle of Custodia, and of the same metal is the ark reaching a height of three meters. Here is the key of Seville.

The altar decorating the cathedral of Seville is considered the most expensive. It took three tons of gold for its design. This altar is called the most beautiful in the whole country. In addition, it is the largest in Spain. It was carved from a tree of larch, walnut and chestnut for almost a hundred years.

A striking impression leaves the work of "Christ" of the Seville sculptor Juan Martinez. He fulfilled it in the beginning of the seventeenth century. The sculpture is a crucifix. She is in the chapel of San Andres. In the sacristy of Las Calies, the canvas of Francisco Goya's work "Saints Justa and Rufina" and the works of other famous Spanish artists are kept .

Choirs

Of great interest are the choirs of the Seville Cathedral. The wooden seats of the halls are decorated with fine carvings and are beautifully encrusted. Here you can see the Gothic style with the influence of Mudejara and Plateresque. In the manufacture of used oak, but there are inserts made from other types of wood. The backs depict human vices and sins. In the part where it is supposed to sit to the clergy, the sections are decorated with arches, on which are placed figurines made of wood, depicting religious figures.

You can not pass by decorating the cathedral of Seville attractions - a magnificent crown of gold. On it are four angels. The whole crown is also decorated with precious stones. The angel that is in the main, front, part is a real unprocessed pearl, reminiscent of human outlines.

A small conclusion

This is the Seville Cathedral (Seville). Spain can be justly proud of the most magnificent of the temples. Tourists who visited this cathedral leave very positive reviews.