Its origin, its name, its height… There are many curiosities about Seville’s Giralda, and here we share the most important ones about this tower which, for many, is the city’s great symbol. Read on and discover little-known anecdotes about this monument, whether you are planning to climb to its summit or are content to admire it from below.
#1. It was once a mosque minaret
Before it was a bell tower, Seville’s Giralda was a minaret—that is, the mosque tower—from which the call to prayer was made when the city was under Almohad rule and was known as Isbiliya (late 12th century). It was after the Christian conquest, in the time of Ferdinand III “the Saint” (mid-13th century), that the original temple and its tower became a church-cathedral and a bell tower, respectively.
#2. Inspired by Marrakech
The builders of the Giralda drew direct inspiration from the great Almohad temple of the time: the Koutoubia Mosque in Marrakech, then the capital of that empire. Although they are not identical, there is a clear resemblance, mainly in the decorative sections of sebka (a lattice of brickwork forming geometric patterns), a distinctive feature of Almohad architecture as a whole.
#3. A name that comes from Italian
While its design and origins are Muslim, its name is indirectly Italian: girandola means “weathervane” or “pinwheel” in that language, spoken by many of the sailors and merchants who lived in Seville when it was the port of departure and arrival for voyages to the Indies. That is how the bronze figure that crowns the tower’s uppermost section—in the form of a bell gable (added in the 15th and 16th centuries)—came to be known. In fact, besides being an allegory of the victory of the Christian faith, this figure also serves as a weathervane, indicating the wind direction.
#4. Climbing via ramps
Unlike most bell towers, the ascent to the summit is made via ramps rather than steps. This is because its tremendous dimensions allow for a manageable incline, making it possible to climb not only on foot but also on horseback. In total, there are around 35 comfortable, wide ramps, paved with bricks laid on edge, once used by imams and sultans, later by bell ringers and kings, and now by countless tourists.
#5. The best-equipped bell tower
One of the curiosities about Seville’s Giralda is that it holds a particular record: it is the best-equipped bell tower, meaning it has the highest number of bells: 24 in total. Each of them has a different name, all of them saints. Here are those most closely linked to the city: Saint Hermenegild, Saint Ferdinand, Saint Justa and Saint Rufina.
#6. A record (former) height
Lastly, it is worth noting that the Giralda has a height that was once record-breaking. We speak in the past because its 104 m height made it, for a long time, the tallest structure in Spain, temporarily surpassed by the bell tower of Segovia Cathedral (108 m) in the 17th century. However, the latter—whose uppermost section was made of wood—had to be replaced after being set on fire by lightning, returning the record to the Giralda. It remained Seville’s tallest building until the construction of the modern Torre Sevilla, or Torre Pelli (named after its architect, César Pelli), the current city’s “roof” at 180 m.
As you can see, there are many curiosities about Seville’s Giralda. If you decide to climb to its summit and enjoy the city views from above, you will need to purchase a combined ticket with the cathedral. Our agency can take care of this and any other detail of your trip.
