Cathedral & Alcázar
The largest Gothic cathedral. The oldest royal palace still in use.
The Cathedral of Seville is the largest Gothic church in the world. The builders said they wanted people to think them mad. They succeeded. Next to it stands the Alcázar, a royal palace that has been continuously occupied since the 10th century — Moorish rulers, Christian kings, and the current Spanish royal family, all under the same ceilings.
This walk circles both buildings and their surroundings, covering the history visible from the outside — the Giralda tower, the Archivo de Indias, the gardens, and the plazas where the two structures meet. It is preparation for going inside, or a complete experience on its own.
The scale is deliberate. Everything here was built to make you feel small.
What you'll discover
·The Cathedral was built on a mosque. The minaret became the bell tower. They called it Giralda.
·Columbus's tomb is carried by four bronze kings. Whether his bones are actually inside is disputed.
·The Alcázar's Hall of Ambassadors has a ceiling made of 6,000 interlocking wooden pieces.
·Pedro the Cruel built a Moorish palace 200 years after the Reconquista. He did not see the contradiction.
·The Alcázar gardens have been used as a film location for Game of Thrones and Lawrence of Arabia.
·9 centuries of construction in one building. No architect ever agreed with the previous one.
Before you go
Best time
First entry at 9:30am for the Alcázar. The Cathedral is quietest on weekday mornings.
Getting there
Tram Line T1 to Archivo de Indias. Both buildings face the same plaza.
Duration
55 minutes for the exterior walk and surroundings. Interior visits require separate tickets and additional time.
Footwear
Paved plazas and some cobblestones. Comfortable flat shoes.
€3.99
This walk. 30 days.
Or all 4 Seville walks for €18.99
Open in app2 devices. One can be a friend's.