Hello Seville!
From the Estacion de Autobuses de Malaga, a short 18 minute walk, we boarded our bus for the two-hour plus journey. Very timely, we took off at 9am on the dot and arrived exactly on time. Having pre-registered for our accommodations, it was an easy transition into our room. Thinking I had booked a hotel room, we were presently surprised to see the size. Quite well organized, upon entering there was a large open closet area with a place for hanging clothes and drawers. A wall runs down the center of the room as a barrier creating a separate living room and bedroom. Welldone Sierpes Boutique is well located and absolutely soundproof for a good night sleep!
When booking, I had two major preferences… I wanted the closet to the sights without sacrificing a quiet sleep. Often restaurants stay open late into the night. This hotel is located an eight minute walk to the cathedral and a five minute walk to the main plaza I wanted to visit. Just above the bed, is a large air conditioner. Thank goodness… it is 95 degrees in Seville with hotter weather expected! The bathroom was large with two main sections. The toilet and double sinks area was a good size. Immediately upon entering the bathroom, the entire “room” housed a big bathtub with jets and basically, the room itself was a shower. There was an overhead full rain shower faucet and attached to the wall was a hand-held shower. It had great water pressure.
Originally built as a mosque in the early 16th century and dedicated in 1182. The stunning interior was built with a goal of showcasing the wealth of Seville. While reading a bit about the local history, much of what was built and design was intended to show wealth or technology intelligence.
The lines of arches were quite impressive. Noted as having the longest nave of any cathedral in Spain, the central nave rises to 138 feet. Claiming to be the largest cathedral in Spain, I had to find clarification on that… La Sagrada Familia is the tallest but Cathedral de Seville covers more floor space. One of these days I will have to compile my many cathedrals… they each have similarities but definitely have the own uniqueness.
Filling the central floorspace in the nave, we found a great boxlike choir box. Trying to take photos around the many visitors can be challenging. Some of my pics are taken at an odd angle. Oh well… it’s only meant for my own enjoyment and to never lose my photos again. They are forever in the cyberworld!
An interesting fact about this particular cathedral, it faces the south instead of east as other churches and cathedrals. This means the church faces Mecca, not Jerusalem.
This impressive area is called the Capilla Mayor… the main chapel. Outside the choir box are several rows of pews. They face the largest altarpiece in the world. It was truly magnificent! Intricate carvings depict various scenes from the life of Jesus. What adds to the stunning display is that the entire wall is covered with a gold leaf. We sat in the pews for quite some time taking it all in. Not surprising but unfortunately, this is a high traffic area so photos were a bit difficult!
Always intrigued by the light fixtures in cathedrals, this time was no different. Chandeliers hanging throughout were very ornate. I had to zoom in to get a closer look! Mostly found in the intimate chapels on the outskirts of the main chapel, they add to the fancy design. Every inch of the cathedral has an artistic purpose. So impressive!
A famous quote is often shared when discussing the Cathedral de Seville… “Let us build a church so beautiful and magnificent that those who see it completed will think we are insane.” I believe they achieved their goal! Outside the main chapel and heading toward a smaller but often used chapel, the walls were lined with rooms… all similar in size but unique in design. This one was pretty intricate! Built of pure marble, this gave the impression of financial success the designers and builders attempted to achieve!
Please enjoy my crooked shot of stained glass… One of my favorite aspects to the design of cathedrals is the colorful glass. Most cathedrals have an abundance of natural light. With the light shining through the decorative glass, the walls are awash in blues, greens, reds, yellows and oranges… Like this one, the window tells a story from biblical times. The fine details are impressive.
Behind the Choir area, is a great vantage point to see across the cathedral. This area is called Santos Martires chapel. Dedicated to two young Christians: Saint Ciriaco and Saint Paula, they are significant in that they were martyrs who were executed during the Roman Empire. In 303AD, they refused to renounce their faith and were stoned to death. Interestingly, the two Saints are celebrated with a giant festival in Malaga every June 18. Had I learned this earlier, I could have either planned differently or extended our stay.
Throughout the cathedral, we saw several scenes depicting the crucifixion of Jesus. Powerful exhibits, that included different phases from that day. Mary was also used in sculpture and painting form, to simulate the life and death of Christ.
Hot is not even a word to describe the temperature… oh my… sweltering? oppressive? both of these words give an idea to the outside air. It was actually stifling! Just outside the cathedral, there were beautiful trees and park-like settings. It would have been nice to gaze at this architectural wonder, but there is no way I could remain outside.
So, this won’t be popular… and it is probably largely due to the uncomfortable weather, but I 100% enjoy the vibe of Malaga over Seville so far. It has a different feel. Obviously, it is a larger city which may take away from the cultural feeling. However, there’s more to see so I may change my mind. :-)
