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The World Heritage site of Seville is about a Spanish city which was and is one of the world’s most important cities.
The UNESCO World Heritage List includes more than a thousand properties with outstanding universal value. They are all part of the world’s cultural and natural heritage.
Official facts
- Official Title: Cathedral, Alcázar and Archivo de Indias in Seville
- Country: Spain
- Date of Inscription: 1987
- Category: Cultural site
UNESCO’s World Heritage Centre’s short description of site no. 383:
“Together these three buildings form a remarkable monumental complex in the heart of Seville. The cathedral and the Alcázar – dating from the Reconquest of 1248 to the 16th century and imbued with Moorish influences – are an exceptional testimony to the civilization of the Almohads as well as that of Christian Andalusia. The Giralda minaret is the masterpiece of Almohad architecture. It stands next to the cathedral with its five naves; the largest Gothic building in Europe, it houses the tomb of Christopher Columbus. The ancient Lonja, which became the Archivo de Indias, contains valuable documents from the archives of the colonies in the Americas.”
My visit
I visited Seville in 2012 on a round-trip of Andalusia. It was a splendid city to visit and at the centre of it was the triangle of complexes listed in UNESCO’s description. I was a bit disappointed with the Cathedral and the Arhives has more to show inside in the form of documents than we were able to look into.
Here is what I wrote about the fortress-palace of Alcázar:
“In the heat of the day we skipped the walk up the Giralda tower on the side of the cathedral. At this point we did however not stop to rest but continued on to the royal palace of Alcázar, the third building complex on UNESCO’s list. The queue on Plaza del Triunfo outside the Lion’s Gate, the entrance to the palace, was not by far as long as I’ve seen on pictures. We went inside to get what was an experience of a lifetime.
The Reales Alcázares de Sevilla was absolutely fantastic. Whatever you may read about its splendour, its beauty, its magnificently adorned hallways, ceilings, patios and gardens comes nowhere near what you see when walking through the palace. I hope my video and the photos here can render at least some of the impressions we got. ”
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