La Giralda

After we had walked around the cathedral, we climbed the Giralda, the 90m decorative brick tower on the northeastern side of the cathedral that served as the minaret of the mosque constructed between 1184 and 1198 at the height of Almohad power. Its proportions, delicate brick-pattern decoration, and color, which changes with the light, make it an excellent example of Spain’s perfect Islamic architecture.

The upper parts of the Giralda (from the bell level up) were added in the 16^th century. This was a period marked by Spanish Christians attempting to “improve on” surviving Islamic buildings. At the very top is El Giraldillo, a 16^th-century bronze weathervane depicting Faith, which has become a symbol of Sevilla.