Seville day 2

Saturday, September 13, 2014
Seville, Andalusia, Spain and Canary Islands
Back to town. As we walked towards the bus, a horse and buggy approached so we took the opportunity of a conducted tour into the old part of the city. Lovely to see sites this way, with a rapid commentary in Spanish! Delivered safe to the cathedral area in time for morning coffee.

Joined the queue for the UNESCO listed cathedral . In the courtyard is El Giraldillo- the huge replica weather vane of "Faith," made while the original was restored, and now kept at ground level.

The original mosque was used as a cathedral from 1248 until it was demolished and rebuilt in 1401. (Finally completed in 1928) "Let us create a building that future generations will take us for lunatics" they said, and they have a Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque cathedral to rival Gaudi's masterpiece in Barcelona! One of the largest cathedrals in the world, (126x83x37 metres high) with 5 naves, countless beautiful stained glass windows, rooms full of treasures including art by Goya and Murillo, and the biggest altarpiece in the world.

We climbed the Giraldi - the minaret of the original mosque, with ramps up its 34 levels instead of stairs so horsemen could get up and down. Fantastic views from the top.

Looked at the tomb of Christopher Columbus, although they are still debating if his bones are there or in the Dominical Republic or both!

Took a final look inside the church again, then lunch in a cafe in the old city (Barrio de Santa Cruz) before heading back to camp as John had computer stuff to do.

Seville is certainly another "come back to again" city.
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