Giralda, Bell tower at Seville Cathedral, Spain
The Giralda stands 103 meters tall in central Seville, combining Almohad architecture in the lower sections with a Renaissance belfry at the top. The slender tower is built from reddish brick with decorative arches and geometric patterns reflecting its different construction phases.
Built in 1195 as the minaret of the Great Mosque during Almohad rule, the structure became a Christian bell tower following the 1248 reconquest. The Renaissance upper section was added in the 16th century, increasing the original Islamic structure by roughly one third.
The tower takes its name from El Giraldillo, a bronze weather vane at the summit representing faith and victory. This rotating figure of a woman holding a palm branch and shield turns with the wind and has served as a landmark for people in the city for centuries.
Visitors climb to the top via 35 gently sloping ramps originally designed for horses carrying construction materials. The ascent takes roughly 15 to 20 minutes and offers views from several intermediate levels overlooking the cathedral interior and surrounding city.
The tower's design influenced numerous buildings across the Americas, including replicas in Kansas City and Miami. In several Spanish colonial cities, similar towers served as models for church and civic structures that shaped entire neighborhoods.
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