The Giralda, Seville

About the Giralda

The Giralda is the bell tower of Seville Cathedral, visible from almost anywhere in the old town. Its lower, larger part is the former minaret of Seville's main mosque, built in the 12th century under the Almohad dynasty. It's one of Spain's most famous monuments of Moorish architecture and a refined example of the Almohad style.

When the mosque became a cathedral, the minaret was kept as a bell tower and topped with a pale Renaissance belfry. With its weathervane it reaches 104.5 metres. Since the Middle Ages the Giralda has been the symbol of Seville, and architects around the world have copied its silhouette.

How the climb works

The Giralda's most unusual feature is its ramps instead of stairs. You wind up the tower along gently sloping passages, so it's an easy walk even if you're not especially fit. The ramps are said to have allowed riders to go up on horseback; for visitors, what matters is that the climb takes 10–15 minutes and is hardly tiring.

Small windows along the way look over the Orange Tree Courtyard and the cathedral roofs. At the top, a viewing gallery sits beside the bells, with a panorama of the old town, the Alcázar, the Guadalquivir river and the modern towers beyond. The bells may ring at noon, so be ready for the noise.

What to see from and on the tower

• The Seville panorama — rooftops, domes and the river.
• The cathedral roofs — Gothic pinnacles and flying buttresses from above.
• The Orange Tree Courtyard — neat rows of trees below.
• The bells — on the belfry's upper gallery.
• The façade carving — brick patterns by Almohad craftsmen.
• The Giraldillo weathervane — the figure at the very top.

The Giralda from outside

To see the whole tower, stand in Plaza Virgen de los Reyes by the fountain: from here you take in its full height, from the Moorish carving at the bottom to the white belfry at the top. The brick walls are decorated with lacy patterns of interlaced arches, a hallmark of Almohad craftsmen.

The tower takes its name from the Giraldillo, the bronze weathervane figure at the top that turns with the wind. The original was taken down for restoration, and a copy stands by the cathedral entrance. At night the Giralda is floodlit and looks especially fine from nearby café terraces and hotel rooftops.

How to get up the Giralda

1. Buy a cathedral ticket online or at the desk.
2. Enter the cathedral and follow the 'Giralda' signs.
3. Walk up the ramps, about 10–15 minutes.
4. Come down and leave through the Orange Tree Courtyard.

Tips for the climb

Bring water: it can be stuffy inside the tower in summer, though the thick walls keep it fairly cool. Comfortable shoes help, as the ramps are long and the floor is uneven in places. If you dislike enclosed spaces, the passages are narrow but have windows and no sharp turns.

Children can make the climb: the ramps are safe, and kids enjoy counting the turns and spotting roofs and domes through the windows. It's awkward with a buggy, so carry little ones or use a carrier.

For a photo of the whole tower, walk to Calle Mateos Gago, which has one of the best views of the Giralda, especially in the evening once the lights come on.

Nearby and on the way

53

Seville Cathedral

Seville, Spain

1 h 45 min · Paid · 3 min walk

Yes — add to my route: Seville Cathedral

44

Archive of the Indies

Seville, Spain

45 min · Free · 3 min walk

Yes — add to my route: Archive of the Indies

50

Alcázar of Seville

Seville, Spain

2 h 30 min · Paid · 4 min walk

Yes — add to my route: Alcázar of Seville

44

Metropol Parasol

Seville, Spain

1 h · Paid · 14 min walk

Yes — add to my route: Metropol Parasol

How to do it right

• Ramps, not stairs.
• Enter through the cathedral.
• Fewer people in the morning.
• Views of the Alcázar and river.

Questions