Castles · Tour
Private Cathedral and Alcázar: Why the Minaret Survived the Mosque
Three and a half hours with a private guide, in whichever language you book, across the Cathedral, the Giralda and the Alcázar.
The question the tour is built around is a good one. After the conquest, Seville pulled down its great mosque and put the largest Gothic cathedral in the world on the site. But it kept the minaret, and turned it into the bell tower. Why demolish the building and keep the tower that announced the call to prayer? The answer is not a footnote, and it explains a lot about how Christian Seville dealt with what it inherited.
The Alcázar is the oldest palace in Europe still in use, and the Spanish royal family still occupies it when they visit. Roman, Arab and Christian history all sit in the same few hundred metres of ground.
The Cathedral is the third largest church in the world. The remains of Christopher Columbus are buried in it, and scientific testing has identified them.
One practical point that differs from most bookings here: the entry tickets are paid to the guide on the day rather than being included in the price, and the group goes in on a skip-the-line pass.
Check-in is at the Naturanda tourist office.
What's included
- Private tour
- Professional guide
- Pick up on foot from a hotel in the centre of Seville
Itinerary
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C. Francos, 19, Sevilla
Naturanda Tourist Office
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Real Alcazar de Sevilla
The royal palace and the gardens. The tickets are paid to the guide, and the group goes in on the skip-the-line pass.
Extra fee
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Catedral De Sevilla
The Cathedral of Seville. The ticket is paid to the guide, and entry is skip-the-line.
Extra fee
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Seville
Not included
- Entrance fees to the monuments are not included in the price of the visit
- Food and Drinks
Good to know
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
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- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Provide full names and passport/identity card details of all passengers on the booking
- Bring your passport/identity card with you on the day of the visit. Copies and photographs are not accepted
- Dress code of the Cathedral of Seville: uncover your head when you enter and refrain from wearing beach shoes, flip-flops, tank tops, small shorts and strapless t-shirts
- Remember to bring the same document (passport or ID) that you used when making your reservation on the day of your visit
- In the event of rain or strong winds, some parts of the Real Alcázar may be closed for safety reasons.
- Up to 15 travelers per booking.
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Guiding available in: en, it, fr, es.
Reviews
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