Sat 10 May 2008
I think Seville was my favorite city that we visited in the Andalucia region. I enjoyed walking around the winding narrow streets and it is full of beautiful parks and fountains. I can’t imagine how hot it must be in the summer there because it was in the 90’s while we visited.
The first place we went to was the Cathedral of Seville, the largest Gothic cathedral in the world.
This photo only gives a glimpse of how huge this cathedral is. It is built on top of a mosque that the Catholic Kings destroyed, probably in the same shape and size.
Here is a view from the top of the tower, la Giralda, which we climbed. The tower is really a minaret similar to the one in Marrakech.
The tomb of Christopher Columbus, he of 1492 and the “discovery” of America. There is some question as to whether he is actually in this tomb-he could be in Santa Domingo. In any case, he did start on his voyage from Spain sent out by King Fernando and Queen Isabel. Isn’t it funny the versions of history that we are taught while in school? It turns out that, while they did indeed send out Columbus on his voyage, they were also systematically wiping out any people not Catholic, even Jews from families that had converted to Catholicism centuries before.
I liked this statue but I’m not sure who he represents. Maybe Columbus? It was near the tomb.
We were having a lunch of tapas when we heard a commotion outside on the street and saw these young men carrying a very heavy load on their heads. They were getting into training for a religious procession which occurs later this month when a very heavy statue of Mary is carried for miles down the street. It looked like a very hard job.
May 10th, 2008 at 4:49 am
I thought the Catholic Monarchs converted the mosque into a cathedral and expanded it instead of destroying it, no? I love the mixture of Moorish, Islamic and European architecture! And those palms make the place look like somewhere in Morocco…
I read that the altarpiece of the cathedral is the finest and largest in the world. Did u manage to take any pics of it?
May 10th, 2008 at 5:27 am
I am enjoying seeing this sights through your words and images. Thank you!
May 10th, 2008 at 7:24 am
beautiful! at first I thought Morocco too. These photos actually make me want to visit Spain, I never really had the desire before.
May 10th, 2008 at 9:43 am
Looks like a lovely time!
May 10th, 2008 at 11:13 am
I’m enjoying finally getting to see Seville through your eyes and hearing of winding streets and beautiful parks and fountains. When we landed there in the seventies, the city was under seige of some sort and our plane was surrounded by machine-gun-toting soldiers. We were shuttled onto an old school bus and driven to Malaga. Never did get to see Seville. It looks beautiful in your photos.
May 11th, 2008 at 1:36 pm
It’s look wonderful there! Ouch. That does look heavy. I’m pretending I’m enjoying tapas with you! Happy Mother’s Day!
May 11th, 2008 at 4:37 pm
Gorgeous photos and it looks like a nice place to visit.
Thanks for sharing with us and a Happy Mother’s Day to you.
May 11th, 2008 at 5:35 pm
I would check with Christopher Columbus’ journals. He was spreading the Gospel, so I was confused. Revisionist history didn’t teach
me that!