Visit the Cathedral of Seville and Giralda: schedules, rates...

For your next holiday, let yourself be tempted by a trip to Seville, in the heart of Andalusia. Here you will find everything you need to know to visit the Cathedral of Seville and visit the Giralda!

Located in the southwest of Spain, on the banks of Guadalquivir, Seville is a unique city. Its mild and sunny climate, its historical vestiges, its unique cultural heritage and its festive atmosphere will be the promise of an unforgettable stay. Its majestic palaces, large animated squares, colourful churches, splendid museums and many other curiosities will put you full of view. Whether you’re a fan of architecture or an art enthusiast, a stay in Seville will be an opportunity to offer you a true culture bath. The Cathedral of Seville and the Giralda are among the treasures of this city, which you will not miss under any pretext during your visit to the Andalusian capital.

The Cathedral of Seville and the Giralda

The Cathedral of Seville, which has 80 different chapels, is the third largest cathedral in the world with its 11,500 m2. Classified as a UNESCO heritage since 1987, this building is the very symbol of the victory of Christianity on Islam in Andalusia. Indeed, it was built on the site of an ancient mosque dating from the 12th century, whose Giralda dominates it is the only vestige. The mix of religions preserved in this monument contributes to the overall beauty of the building. The work began in 1248 and officially ended in 1506. But during the next 500 years, the cathedral was improved through five architectural styles: Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, Academic and Neo-Gothic. The Giralda, transformed into a bell tower, enclosing 24 bells, is a 98 m high tower, which has incomparable decorations and an observation platform that gives access to a breathtaking view of the city.

You can't go to the Andalusian capital without visiting the Cathedral of Seville and Giralda! Discover here all the practical information to visit them.

How to visit the Cathedral of Seville and Giralda?

The cathedral and the Giralda are admirable both inside and outside. At the entrance of the cathedral, many brochures offering detailed routes to facilitate your visit are available. A advice, in view of the size of the cathedral, a small plan will not be too much for an effective visit!

Places not to be missed in the Cathedral of Seville:

La Giralda et Le Giraldillo : to visit the Giralda, it is to climb along thirty-four ramps to reach the top of this bell tower with 24 bells! You will get a breathtaking view of Seville. The Giralda is surmounted by the El Giraldillo girouette which represents faith.

The Tomb of Christopher Columbus : to visit the Cathedral of Seville, it is obligatory to pass before the extraordinary tomb of the great explorer, Christophe Colomb located under a mausoleum of bronze and marble. You will find it near the main entrance of the cathedral, inside the Puerta de los Príncipes (Porte des Princes).

The Capilla Real : it is the Royal Chapel, dedicated to the Virgin de los Reyes (Saint patron of Seville). You will be amazed by its magnificent richly decorated cupola, which houses the tomb of Alphonse X, Ferdinand III, the holy king and the statue of Notre-Dame des Rois.

La Capilla Mayor The most striking feature of the Cathedral’s Main Chapel is the stunning Retablo Mayor, an art work of 1482 painted by Pedro Dancart, representing the 1000 scenes of the life of Christ and the Bible.

La Puerta de la Asunción : located opposite the Cailla Mayour, this impressive door is opened only during Holy Week, in order to let the confreries enter the cathedral.

The Cours des Orangers : Finally, don't miss the beautiful Course des Orangers. It represents what remains of the inner courtyard of the old mosque. 60 orange trees and a wisigoth fountain will offer you in this huge courtyard of 3500 square meters.

How to get to the Cathedral of Seville and the Giralda

The Cathedral of Seville is located in the centre of the city, on the Avenida de la Constitución, not far from the Canal de Alfonso XIII.

• On foot: from the Plaza de Armas, the cathedral is 1.5 km on foot by taking Calle Arjona and then turning left onto Calle Adriano and then the Calle Arfe.
• By bus: from the Plaza de Armas, take the line C3, direction "Bellavista", stop "Paseo Cristóbal Colón".
• By train: 2 kms separate the station “Santa Justa” from theAlcázar de Seville.

The Cathedral of Seville and the Giralda: schedules

Throughout the year, the schedules are as follows:

• Monday: from 11am to 3:30pm

• From Tuesday to Saturday: from 11am to 5pm

• Sunday: from 2:30 to 6:00 p.m.

In July and August (except July 17 and 25), schedules change:

• Monday to Saturday from 10:30 am to 6:00 pm (billetterie until 5:00 pm)
• Sunday from 14:00 to 19:00 (billetterie until 18:00)

Attention, the cathedral is closed on 1 January, 6 January and 25 December. In addition, opening hours may be changed in the event of celebration of religious ceremonies and cultural activities.

The Cathedral of Seville and the Giralda: prices

• General adult entrance : 9 €
• Reduced price (retired, students under 26 years old): 4 €
• Free for persons with disabilities (with free accompaniment if the disabled person is indispensable), children under the age of 14 accompanied by an adult and the unemployed.
• Free for all Mondays from 16:30 to 18:00

Tickets include the entrance to the Cathedral, the Giralda, the Cours des Orangers and the Church of El Salvador (600 meters from the Cathedral)

You can also book guided tour of the Cathedral and the Giralda for 29€.

Small tips to visit the Cathedral of Seville and the Giralda

Seville is renowned for its high temperatures in the summer. Spring and autumn are perfect for visiting Seville, with more clementing temperatures.

Being a sacred place, you will have to respect a certain dress code if you want to visit the Cathedral of Seville. It is advisable to hide your shoulders with a t-shirt or scarf for example for women, and to wear pants or skirts that fall at least to the knees, so no shorts either.

Main Photo Credit: Wikimedia – Curimedia