Seville Cathedral Totally Explained

Everything about Seville Cathedral totally explained

The Cathedral of Seville, formally Catedral de Santa María de la Sede (Cathedral of Saint Mary of the See) was begun in 1402, with construction continuing into the 16th century.
   It is the largest of all Roman Catholic cathedrals (Saint Peter's Basilica not being a cathedral) and also the largest Medieval Gothic religious building, in terms of both area and volume. It is 76 by 115 meters, and was built to cover the land previously occupied by the Almohad Mosque. Its central nave rises to a height of 42 metres and even the side chapels seem tall enough to contain an ordinary church. Its main altarpiece is considered the largest in the Christian world.
   The interior, with the longest nave in Spain, is lavishly decorated, with a large quantity of gold evident. In the main body of the cathedral only the great box like structure of the coro stands out, filling the central portion of the nave. This opens onto the Capilla Mayor, dominated by a vast Gothic retablo of 45 carved scenes from the life of Christ. The lifetime work of a single craftsman, Pierre Dancart, this is the ultimate masterpiece of the cathedral - the largest and richest altarpiece in the world and one of the finest examples of Gothic woodcarving anywhere.
   The Cathedral also has a large collection of religious jewelry items, paintings and sculptures, along with the tomb of Christopher Columbus.
   The builders reused some columns and elements from the mosque, and most famously the Giralda, originally a minaret, was converted into a bell tower. It is topped with a statue representing Faith. The Giralda is the city's most famous symbol.
   This cathedral was built to demonstrate Seville's wealth, as it had become a major trading center in the years after the Reconquista.
   During the planning of the cathedral's construction, a member of the chapter was recorded to have commented "we shall have a church [sogreat and] of such a kind that those who see it built will think we were mad."

Timeline

1184 - La Giralda begun (Harvey 260)
1198 - Completion of Almohad Mosque (Montiel 12) (Harvey 260)
1248 - Conquest of Seville by Ferdinand III, mosque Christianized (Montiel 14)
1376 - Earthquake destroys minaret, replaced by bell gable (Montiel 12)
1401 - (8 July- Harvey 230) Decision made to replace former mosque (Montiel 15)
1402 - Nave begun- SW corner (Harvey 260)
1432 - Nave completed, east end started (Harvey 260)
1466 - Demolition of Royal Chapel authorized by Juan II (Montiel 15)
1467 - East end completed, vaults begun. Anchors added. (Harvey 260)
1475 - Stalls begun (Harvey 260)
1478 - Stalls completed (Harvey 260)
1481 - Doorways in high altar completed (Montiel 16)
1482 - Retablo Mayor begun (ALTARPIECE) (Harvey 260)
1498 - Vaults completed, lantern begun (Harvey 260)*
1506 - Main dome (lantern) completed (Montiel 16) (Harvey 260)
1511 - Lantern collapses, rebuilding begins (Montiel 16) (Harvey 260)
1515 - New choir vaults completed (Montiel 16)*
1517 - New transept vaults completed (Montiel 16)*
1519 - Lantern rebuilding completed (Harvey 260)
1526 - Retablo Mayor completed (Harvey 260)
1551 - Capilla Real begun (Harvey 260)
1558 - Belfry replaces bell gable (Montiel 12)
1568 - Giralda, top stages (Harvey 260)
1575 - Capilla Real completed (Harvey 260)
1888 - Main dome and vaults collapse (Montiel 16)

Gallery

Image:Sevila10.JPG|Seville Cathedral Image:Sevilla_kathedrale.jpg|Exterior of the Cathedral (South view) Image:Sevilla2005Julio 003.jpg|Cathedral view from Plaza del Triunfo Image:Seville_Massive_Se_Cathedral_Facade.jpg|Façade of the Cathedral. Image:La Giralda.jpg|Giralda as seen from the outside wall of the Patio de los Naranjos Image:Giralda.jpg|Giralda from Plaza Virgen de Los Reyes Image:Sevilla2005July 036.jpg|Cathedral roofs as seen from the Giralda Image:Sevilla kathedrale innenansicht.jpg|Interior of the Cathedral Image:Sevilla2005July 029.jpg|Inside the Cathedral Image:Sevilla2005July 031.jpg|Inside the Cathedral Image:Sevilla2005July 032.jpg|Inside the Cathedral Image:Sevilla2005July 028.jpg|Sepulchre of Columbus Image:Sevilla2005July 034.jpg|Cathedral Treasure Image:Patio of the Oranges Gate, Seville Cathedral.jpg|Gate to the Patio de los Naranjos, part of the old Almohad mosque, now annexed to the Cathedral. Image:Sevilla2005July 043.jpg|Cathedral from the Patio de los Naranjos. Image:Pierre Dancart Alterpiece Seville.jpg|Pierre Dancart's masterpiece, considered one of the finest altarpieces in the world. Further Information

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