Spain/Andalusia: Seville – La Giralda
La Giralda is the bell tower of the Seville Cathedral, separately listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The tower is actually a minaret of the Great Mosque of Seville built in 1171 during the Almohad dynasty. The Catholics added a belfry to the top later. The tower rises 104 m (342 ft) and is an unmissable symbol of Sevilla. The construction of the minaret tower took 27 long years to complete and architects and builders from all over Andalusia and the Mahreb were involved. It’s a must-see in Sevilla and should absolutely be the first stop – climb to the top for insane views of the Sevilla center. There are 35 “floors” in the tower with ramps leading via a spiral to the top observation platform (no elevators here). Strenuous “hike” up in a 40 degree heat, but absolutely worth it for the views.
