Visit to Seville’s Cathedral & Alcázar, Seville

Join a private guide and visit Seville's most important monuments: Seville Cathedral and the Royal Alcázar. You'll skip the long lines and enjoy a personalized experience that digs deep into the city's history and cultural heritage. Start by meeting your guide at the cathedral (the world's largest Gothic cathedral and a UNESCO World Heritage Site) and climb the bell tower, La Giralda, for incredible city views. Then make your way to the Alcázar, a royal palace commissioned for King Peter of Castile, replacing the original Moorish fortress and offering one of the country's best examples of Mudejar architecture.

You'll visit Seville's two most iconic and important monuments, the Seville Cathedral and the Royal Alcázar of Seville, with a personalized experience and private guide. After meeting your guide at the base of the La Giralda bell tower, you'll start your journey into the city's unique and diverse history and cultural heritage. First, learn about the cathedral's origins, built on the site of a former Moorish mosque. The Catholics took the mosque from the ruling Moors in the 13th century, destroying its entire structure except for the Patio de los Naranjos (the orange courtyard) and the Giralda tower, which was originally the mosque's minaret. It took over 100 years to fully construct the cathedral, finishing in the early 16th century.

As your guide will explain, understanding the structure's history helps when observing its exterior. Also known as the Catedral de Santa María de la Sede, this is the largest Gothic Cathedral in the world, a massive structure at over 400 feet (127 m) long, 272 feet (83 m) wide, and 141 feet (43 m) high. You can walk around to view its four directional facades and 10 doors. The main Door of Assumption is the largest and on the West Facade, though its Door of the Conception is probably the most recognized, as it opens up to the Patio de los Naranjos. 

After observing the exterior, head inside to check out the impressive interiors of the cathedral. Besides its 80 chapels, two intricate organs, altarpiece, and art collection, you'll also find the tomb of Christopher Columbus inside. View the bronzed coffin, plus paintings by Murillo, Goya, Pedro de Campaña, and Luis de Vargas, the Royal Chapel (Capilla Real) dedicated to King Ferdinand III of Castile, and the Treasure Room. 

Finish your time at the cathedral by climbing the looming bell tower, La Giralda. Then, on your way out, follow your guide through the picturesque Patio de Los Naranjos, the church's courtyard filled with orange trees.

Next, take a quick stroll to the Real Alcázar de Seville, just a few minutes away by foot. Alcazar means "castle" in Spanish, derived from an Arabic word. This makes sense, as the Moors built the fortress in the 11th century. But after the Christian reconquest, King Peter of Castile commissioned the building for a palace, assembling the current structure over the former Muslim site. As a result, your guide will show you how the palace is one of Spain's best examples of Mudéjar architecture, a renowned style found throughout Spain using influences from Moorish and Christian culture.

As you stroll through the complex with your guide, there are plenty of places to stop and learn about the structure's history and cultural importance. The fortress has impressive interiors and stunning gardens, including the Patio of the Virgins with its elongated pond, serrated arches leading to adorned reception rooms, and the Salón de Embajadores (Ambassador's Hall) with its dome of carved cedar wood. There's also the Casa de Contratación, where the country managed trade with the Americas. Your guide will also take you through the palace's complex of intricate gardens with Moorish and Renaissance architectural styles, ponds, fountains, fruit trees, lush plant life, shaded paths, pavilions, and resident peacocks.

At the end of your excursion, your guide is happy to leave you with time to continue enjoying the gardens on your own. Take some time to sit on a bench and listen to the birds in the trees and the murmuring fountains.