Cathedral, Alcázar and Archivo de Indias in Seville
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.