Seville Cathedral

It may feel like there’s almost too much to see in this beautiful city, but here is the star of the show: the magnificent Seville Cathedral. This is the third largest cathedral in the world, after St. Peter’s in the Vatican and St. Paul’s in London. It was built to show the power and prestige of the Kingdom of Castile after its conquest of the Almohad territories. The cathedral was built on the site of a former mosque, which had been deconsecrated in 1248 and used as a Christian church ever since. In the 13th century, most of the mosque was torn down—except for the courtyard of the orange trees and the minaret, which we now know as the Giralda, one of the city’s iconic landmarks. Apparently, when the plans for the new cathedral were being drawn up, chief architect Alonso Martinez declared: “Let us build a church so grand that those who see it finished will think we were mad!” The only way to understand the scale of that madness, is to step inside. Entry is ticketed, but it includes access to the cathedral, the orange tree courtyard, and the Giralda. There’s a lot to take in: intricate gold leaf details, paintings by Spanish masters, and a colossal organ. You’ll also find the tomb of Christopher Columbus, brought here from Cuba in 1898, as well as the Royal Chapel, where some of Spain’s greatest monarchs are buried. The most breathtaking sight is the main chapel’s altarpiece—a work of art that took lifetimes to complete. Flemish sculptor Pedro Dancart began this masterpiece in 1482, after which several talented sculptors continued his vision over the decades. Today, it’s the largest and most magnificent altarpiece in all of Christendom. The cathedral, along with the Alcázar and the General Archives of the Indies, is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.