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Sevilla: La Giralda La Giralda is in many ways the symbol of Sevilla. Not only does dominate the skyline, and is considered to be Sevilla's most beautiful building. It's present appearance bears a trace of almost every period over the last 800 years. La Giralda is nothing less than a minaret, completed under the Almohad rulers in 1196. It is counted as the culmination of Almohad architecture, and was the model of the main minarets of Rabat and Marrakech. But its history doesn't stop there.As a matter of fact, its name does not point to anything from the Muslim era, rather the giraldillo, the weather vane, on the summit. This was added to the former minaret in the 16th century. Not long before that the 4 diminishing stories of the belfry were added, as well as balconies on the original minaret. The Giralda belonged originally to the Great Mosque in Sevilla, but had an unusual extra function: it was an observatory, and so highly valued by the Muslim rulers, that they tried to destroy it before the Christians conquered Sevilla. But the later King Alfonso 10 threatened them with death if they did so.
© Copyright 1996-2008 LookLex Ltd. All rights reserved Text by: Tore Kjeilen Photo: Tor Eigeland/Saudi Aramco World/PADIA |
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