The Seville Cathedral offers a striking yet intricate fusion of Moorish foundations and Christian architecture. From the soaring vaulted ceilings to the choir stalls and the stained glass windows, every detail echoes a story of power, faith, and complex history. This guide explores the must-see highlights inside the Seville Cathedral.
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The subject of immense debate and controversy, the Seville Cathedral claims to be the final resting place of Christopher Columbus. Right inside the main entrance and in the south transept, his tomb is held aloft by four figures that represent the historical kingdoms of Spain.
The Seville Cathedral houses around 80 chapels—ornate spaces filled with treasures, altarpieces, tombs, and artworks spanning Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, and Neoclassical styles. These chapels served various religious and ceremonial purposes, with reports from the late 19th century noting that up to 500 masses were said daily within them.
The Retablo Mayor, located at the heart of the main chapel, is the biggest and possibly also the most intricately designed wooden altarpiece worldwide. At 20m in height and 18m across, it features over 40 individual scenes from the life of Christ, meticulously carved and gilded. This awe-inspiring masterpiece by Flemish sculptor Pierre Dancart took over 40 years to complete.
Unlike most bell towers, which have steep staircases, the La Giralda consists of 34 gently sloped ramps. On your way up to the balcony, you’ll come across intricate designs that remind you of the cathedral’s Moorish and Christian roots, both intricately intertwined.
Booking your Seville Cathedral tickets in advance is the best way to skip the lines on the day of your visit. You also get the option to book a guided tour or choose from combo tickets to other nearby attractions.
It could take you anywhere between 1-3 hours to tour the Seville Cathedral’s interior. If you’re short on time, you can cover all key highlights in less than 2 hours. If you want to dive deeper into its architecture, you could easily spend between 2-3 hours here.
Absolutely! You can book skip-the-line tickets to avoid waiting in long ticket lines and make your way into the cathedral. You don’t need a guide to do so, but you can always choose a skip-the-line guided tour if you want an immersive experience.
Yes, the Seville Cathedral is wheelchair accessible. You’ll also find wheelchair friendly restrooms, a free wheelchair service, a Braille brochure for those with visual impairments, and more.
Yes, but remember that flash photography and the use of tripods and selfie sticks are prohibited. You must also abide by any signs that prohibit photography in certain parts of the cathedral.
Unlike a lot of other bell towers, the climb up to the La Giralda’s summit involves ascending 34 gently sloping ramps, rather than stairs. These ramps were built to help muezzins ascend the tower on horseback to issue the call to prayer.
Seville Cathedral & La Giralda Skip-the-Line Tickets
Combo: Alcázar of Seville + Seville Cathedral + La Giralda Tickets
Alcázar of Seville + Seville Cathedral + La Giralda Skip-the-Line Guided Tour
Seville Cathedral & La Giralda Skip-the-Line Guided Tour
