La versión en español está después de la versión en inglés.
We arrived in Sevilla around noon Tuesday. San Geraldo had made reservations to visit the Cathedral at 3:00, which gave us time for a great lunch nearby. Our hotel was only a few minutes walk from the cathedral. You can sometimes stand for hours waiting to enter the cathedral, so a reservation with entry through a different door is the way to go. We also had reservations a little later to climb the giralda (bell tower). Worth the climb, even though it was mobbed. The cathedral was the most crowded I’ve ever seen it.
Completed in the 16th century on the site of the mosque that was completed in 1198, it’s the largest gothic church in the world. The bell tower is the original minaret of the mosque with the belfry added in the 16th century. Of course the cathedral is filled with dead people, including Christopher Columbus (or at least some of Christopher Columbus) and San Geraldo’s 22-greats grandfather, Ferdinand III, whose marble, gold, and silver tomb with glass for viewing his preserved remains can be found in a private sacristy. He can be seen now by appointment and only for religious (and I think scholarly) purposes — although I think viewing is open to the public on Saint Ferdinand’s Day. Given San Geraldo’s research and connection, I have a feeling we could finagle an appointment. But a senior member of the brotherhood is the building manager where we used to live. He’s an ignorant, arrogant, pompous ass, and a proud member of Spain’s extreme far-right VOX party.
So, I borrowed a photo from the web (above).
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Llegamos a Sevilla alrededor del mediodía del martes. San Geraldo había hecho reservas para visitar la Catedral a las 15:00, lo que nos dio tiempo para un gran almuerzo cerca. Nuestro hotel estaba a solo unos minutos a pie de la catedral. A veces puedes esperar durante horas para entrar a la catedral, por lo que una reserva con entrada por una puerta diferente es el camino a seguir. También teníamos reservas un poco más tarde para subir a la giralda (campanario). Vale la pena subir, a pesar de que estaba atestado. La catedral fue la más concurrida que he visto.
Completada en el siglo XVI en el sitio de la mezquita que se completó en 1198, es la iglesia gótica más grande del mundo. El campanario es el minarete original de la mezquita con el campanario añadido en el siglo XVI. Por supuesto, la catedral está llena de muertos, incluidos Cristóbal Colón (o al menos algunos de Cristóbal Colón) y el bisabuelo de San Geraldo, Fernando III, cuya tumba de mármol, oro y plata con vidrio para ver sus restos preservados puede ser encontrado en una sacristía privada. Ahora se le puede ver con cita previa y solo con fines religiosos (y creo que académicos), aunque creo que la visita está abierta al público el día de San Fernando. Dada la investigación y la conexión de San Geraldo, tengo la sensación de que podríamos concertar una cita. Pero un miembro mayor de la hermandad es el administrador del edificio donde solíamos vivir. Es un idiota ignorante, arrogante, pomposo y un miembro orgulloso del partido VOX de extrema derecha de España.
Entonces, tomé prestada una foto de la web (arriba).
• Este es el colgante que portaron las tropas de 22-Grandes Abuelo Fernando III en 1248.
• Fernando III a la izquierda. Esta era una capilla separada y tomada desde la distancia. No lo había notado hasta que abrí Photoshop y me acercé. Me pregunté a dónde lo habían conmovido.
• Que contenga los restos (o al menos algunos de los restos) de Cristóbal Colón.
• Otra capilla, otro obispo.
Click the thumbnails to enlarge.
Haz clic en las miniaturas para ampliar.
I love Sevilla! Wonderful photos! and how cool that San Geraldo has Spanish roots.
tobyo:
I’ve got Spanish roots, too… according to my DNA. Other than that, I wouldn’t have a clue.
So cool! I only imagine that I have Spanish roots, though my DNA says 3% souther Europe. That could mean Spain! 🤓
I was surprised by the dead saints under glass when I first saw them. Columbus was not very kind. At had a translation of what has been found of his ships log books, very interesting reading, I loaned it to a friend,
David:
Columbus was awful. Those log books must be brutally upsetting.
I used to find monuments, religious and secular, like the Colosseum or St.Peter’s Basilica or the Duomo somewhat fascinating. I’m not sure why my interest has waned. Perhaps it’s the possibility for travel that seems less and less likely with every passing year…
Frank:
The religion and the displayed wealth overwhelmns and angers me, but the architecture is incredible.
What massive structure! One would think all members of Ferdinand’s family wouldn’t need a reservation, eh? No respect!
Jim:
Yes, one would think.
Busy guy that Ferdinand; you have to make an appointment to see him even when he’s dead. Must have had lots of unfinished business. Those tombs give me some great ideas for my own eventual mausoleum (still can’t decide between bronze or marble…)
Wicked Hamster:
I’d go with marble. Adding gold and silver to bronze is not quite as effective.
Is it too late for San Geraldo to contest Ferdinand’s will?
Debra:
I’ve asked him that same question. He doesn’t answer. I think he thinks I’m kidding.
It is an impressive place, indeed – although endless tombs of the “great-and-the-good” (a highly questionable description), adorned with and surrounded by the former treasures of the Aztecs and Incas all melted-down and made into railings, altarpieces and enormous monstrances began to leave me a bit cold. We did climb the giralda (a feat made so much easier by the fact it was built with gentle ramps, rather than steps, to accommodate the muezzin‘s horse!) and the views are spectacular. My favourite bit of our visit, needless to say, was to the gardens of the nearby Royal Alcázar. Jx
Jon:
Endless tombs of the rich and the powerful more like it.
While Gothic is not my favorite style of architecture, this is a spectacular example! You have some wonderful photos here. Whoever thought you’d need reservations to get into a cathedral (in a timely manner)!?!
Kelly:
I once stood in line there for 40 minutes, and that wasn’t as bad as it can be. This visit would have been a nightmare.
“Pieces of Columbus” sounds like a pop song.
I love the night shots; the building all lit up is gorgeous.
Bob:
The old city at night is magical. Columbus is not.
That’s quite a cathedral. I’m surprised you weren’t ushered in immediately for a visit with SG’s very late, very great grandfather.
Love,
Janie
janiejunebug:
Our former building manager wanted to arrange a private visit for us when we lived there. I’m glad I never took him up on it.
Beautiful building! Now I’ve got “another opening, another show” in my head.
Walt the Fourth:
Another chapel, another bishop. Another apple, and then we’ll dish up…
As Philip Roth said, goodbye Columbus.
Kirk:
I’m sure those he “discovered” wished they could say that.
I visited that cathedral, but I don’t think I climbed La Giralda. Not that I remember, anyway.
That bishop has too many pillows.
Steve:
I think you’d remember the climb. It’s all ramps (34 of them) that were used by the muezzin who rode to the top on horseback. One flight of stairs at the top added by the Christians.
Not surprising that there is a growing movement in USA to ditch “Columbus Day.”
But I thank you for the stories and photos. I never did get to Seville…
dinahmow:
The University of Granada is analyzing DNA to see if Coumbus was actually from somewhere in Spain. They did confirm that bones in the tomb belong to him. Lots of conspiracy theories. Italy can claim him as far as I’m concerned. If you get a chance to return to Spain, don’t miss Seville.