The Giralda is one of the "big three" of Almohad towers, the other ones being the Koutoubia minaret in Marrakesh and the incomplete Hassan Mosque tower in Rabat. Sevilla's tower is probably the most exquisite and eclectic of the three, although some may argue that the Koutoubia minaret has a purer design. The Almohads constructed the Giralda from 1184 to 1196. Its brickwork facades with arched windows and niches are simple but unique enough to have four subtly distinctive faces. The lower walls are as thick as 2.5 meters to support its weight, which rests atop a dense foundation of stones mostly recycled from Roman ruins.
The original appearance of the tower's top was altered by earthquake and by design. Balconies, the belfry tower (added by Hernan Ruiz in 1568) and a bell chamber were added to modify the original design. The tower is now capped by the giraldillo (weather vane), added in the 16th Century after the original copper spheres were damaged by earthquake. The giraldillo consists of 25 bells, with the oldest ones dating back to 1400. The bronze female figure called "Faith" caps the tower. The interior has a continuous series of 35 wide ramps that lead to the top of the tower. The Moors formerly used the minaret as a prayer calling point and as an observatory. Nowadays, visitors climb the ramps to the bell chamber for superb panoramic views of surrounding Sevilla. Look about also for the Gothic details of the tower itself and the Catedral domes immediately below.
One can well imagine the fierce passions surrounding the Giralda when the Christians, who fought hard to keep it from being completely destroyed, booted the Muslims out. In a way, the Christians placed their stylistic and religious stamps on the tower with various additions, thereby transforming the Moorish minaret into a Christian bell tower. Thanks to the passage of time, the mixture of styles is now widely accepted and the Giralda has become the beloved and most recognized landmark of Sevilla.
The entrance fee to the Giralda is included with the ticket for the Catedral. Enter at the northeast corner of the Catedral near the Capilla Real.