Giralda Tower; the former Minaret of the Mosque of Seville
Giralda Tower; the former Minaret of the Mosque of Seville
- The Giralda is the former minaret of the mosque that stood on the site under Muslim rule, and was built to resemble the minaret of the Koutoubia Mosque in Marrakech, Morocco. It was converted into a bell tower for the cathedral after the Reconquista.
- Initial construction: Upon returning to al-Andalus in 1184 for a new military campaign, Aby Ya’qub Yusuf ordered the construction of the minaret. However, construction halted that same year with the death of the architect and, a month and a half later, the caliph, who died while commanding the Siege of Santarém. His son, Abu Yusuf Yaqub al-Mansur, ordered construction on the minaret to continue upon his accession in 1184, but the work stalled again soon after and did not restart until 1188.
- On 10 March 1198, the tower was completed with the addition of the finial (jāmūr) of four precious metal spheres (either gold or bronze) at the tower’s peak to commemorate al-Mansur’s victory over Alfonso VIII of Castile, which had taken place four years prior.
- It was registered in 1987 as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
- Easily accessible at the heart of Seville, the iconic Giralda beckons visitors from every corner of the city. Its towering presence is a captivating sight, visible from afar, drawing crowds as it is popular in the area.
