The Giralda of Seville, a 12th-century Almohad minaret
Written by official guides
The Giralda is today the bell tower of Seville Cathedral and was, before that, the minaret of the Almohad mosque. It stands on Plaza Virgen de los Reyes and was built in the 12th century.
Over time the tower became a bell tower, and looking at it you can make out two styles: Islamic and Renaissance, the latter left by Hernán Ruiz in the 16th century. The visit to the Giralda is included with the Cathedral ticket.
History: from Almohad minaret to Christian bell tower
The Giralda is a clear reflection of Seville's history. It was built in the late 12th century as the minaret of the great Almohad mosque, a tower from which the muezzin called Muslims to prayer.
After the conquest of Seville in 1248 by King Ferdinand III the Saint, the mosque became a cathedral and the tower a Christian bell tower. In the 16th century the Giralda was finally topped with the placement of the Giraldillo, a bronze statue representing the triumph of the Catholic faith, weighing one tonne.
The Giralda is a World Heritage Site and a clear example of the presence of Islamic and Christian cultures in the city.
What to see: the Giraldillo and the tower's two styles
Just by looking at the Giralda you can tell apart two styles. On one hand, the Islamic style, since it was built in the 12th century as the mosque's minaret. On the other, the Renaissance style, added in the 16th century by Hernán Ruiz, when the tower was finally topped off as a bell tower.
At the very top stands the Giraldillo, a bronze statue weighing one tonne that represents the triumph of the Catholic faith. Its name comes from the word 'girar' (to turn), because the Giraldillo turns with the direction of the wind, and it gave its name to both the statue and the tower.
Climbing the Giralda: ramps, steps and views
The Giralda is climbed mainly by ramps. In total it has thirty-four ramps and only seventeen steps.
From its highest point, the Giralda offers one of the best views over Seville's old town. The visit takes around 25 minutes and there's no time limit once inside.
Comfortable shoes are recommended.
Opening hours and ticket prices
The Giralda visit is included with the Cathedral ticket, so opening hours are the same for both. Monday to Saturday you can enter between 11:00 and 18:00, with access until 17:00 and clearing from 17:40. Sundays it opens from 14:30 to 19:00, with access until 18:00 and clearing from 18:40.
General admission costs €13.00 online and €14.00 at the box office.
5 curiosities about the Giralda that usually go unnoticed
One curiosity is how the tower is built inside: it has only seventeen steps, because the Almohads built it with ramps instead — thirty-four in total, since it was originally climbed on donkeys.
Replicas of the Giralda exist today in different places around the world, including Kansas City, Havana and Badajoz.
Its name comes from 'girar' (to turn), after the Giraldillo, which turns with the wind and gave its name to both the statue and the tower.
As for bells, the Giralda has 24 bells, making it the Spanish cathedral with the most bells. They're split into 18 swinging bells and 6 clapper (chime) bells.
There's also an additional, 25th bell, which used to function as a clock.
Guided tour of the Giralda and the Cathedral
The Giralda visit is included with the Cathedral ticket, and it's recommended to start with the tower, since it has its own access control point.
If you'd like to do it with a guide, our guided Seville Cathedral tour makes it easy, covering the Cathedral and the Giralda in the same visit.
Want to see it with an official guide telling you about it in person?