Giralda

The Giralda is part of one of the most representative buildings of the city of Seville: the Cathedral. It consists of different bodies that are perfectly joined. The Muslim body, the oldest one, was started in 1184, ordered by the emir al- Mumin Abu Yacub with stones from former Roman buildings of Seville. It has the classic structure of the Almohad minarets: central prism with square base surrounded by four external walls.

Brick is used for its external decoration which consists of a chain of rhombus using mullioned windows with Semicircular and Polilobed Horseshoe Arches, surrounded by an alfiz and inserted inside another great Lobed Pointed arch created by Aben Basi and his nephew Alí de Gomara.

In 1558, the chapter meeting agreed to redesign the top of the tower. In the XVI Century, a new body with bells and shrines, by Hernán Ruíz, was added. You access to it though ramps, from which you can enjoy a beautiful sight of the city. The next body is the white lily body, whose name belongs to the white lilies made of bronze located on the corners. On top, the Renaissance Cuerpo de Carambolas (Body of billiards), that consists of a star- shape body, a dome and a dome cap in order to finish the new bell tower. Here, the monumental sculpture of the Giraldillo, which is four metres high and dressed with classic clothes, is located. It has a shield in one hand and palm tree in the other one. It was designed by Luis de Vargas and was melted in bronze by Bartolomé Morel. This sculpture turns to the wind direction. It symbolizes the victory of the Christian Faith.