Seville Cathedral

A mosque

The cathedral stands on the grand mosque of the Almohad caliph

The Almohad caliph Abu Yaqub Yusuf ordered a new grand mosque in 1172. It was dedicated in 1182 and completed in 1198, and measured 113 by 135 metres. After Ferdinand III conquered the city, the mosque was converted into the cathedral.

Take us for mad

In 1401 the chapter decided to build a church so big it would seem mad

In July 1401 city leaders decided to build a new cathedral to replace the grand mosque. Work began in 1402 and continued for over a century. Many architects worked on it, often from other countries, including a Dutch master named Ysambert and a French master named Carlín.

The largest

When it was finished it passed Hagia Sophia as the largest cathedral

After its completion in the early 16th century, Seville Cathedral supplanted Hagia Sophia as the largest cathedral in the world, a title the Byzantine church had held for a thousand years. The Gothic section alone is 126 metres long and 76 metres wide.

126 mthe length of the Gothic section alone

Falling domes

The crossing fell in 1511 and again in 1888

In 1511 the crossing lantern and some of the vaults collapsed. Juan Gil de Hontañón designed the current lantern in 1513, and it was completed in 1519. The crossing collapsed again in 1888, due to an earthquake, and work on the dome continued until at least 1903.

The tombs

Columbus and the conqueror of Seville are buried here

The royal chapel holds the remains of the city's conqueror, Ferdinand III of Castile, his son Alfonso the Wise, and King Peter the Cruel. Christopher Columbus and his son Diego are also buried in the cathedral.