la Giralda

[low_delta]

This is la Giralda. It was originally a minaret, built in the 1100's. At some point, the mosque was abandoned, and eventually razed. Seville's cathedral was built on the site. The minaret was incorporated, and a belltower was added to the top. If you look closely, you can see the dividing line between the Moorish construction, and the later Christian addition.


A closer view.


El Giraldillo, the bronze statue on the top. She was raised in the 1680's.
I'd love to know how. And she spins. The big shield-like thing
is a wind vane. Note the lightning rods at her feet.

She was brought down some years ago, for renovation.
A replica was made, and put in her place on the tower.
After restoration, she was returned, and her replica
stands by the entrance. I didn't get a photo of her,
but you can see what she looks like in this picture.


The bells strike the quarter hour. One went off while
we were up there. I'm sure the people under it jumped.


They're mechanically controlled. The ones in the windows roll over,
while the ones over the walkway have cables that pull the clappers.

I should have counted the bells. It looks like there are about twenty on this level.

Comments

[pondhopper.livejournal.com]

ELGiraldillo.
:)
Even if she is a woman, the word is masculine.
Giraldillo=weathervane.

I have always wondered how they got the original up there and as much as I look for an answer I can't find it.

There are 26 bells total. 19 turn round and round to ring (the outer bells) and 7 ring by swinging back and forth and using only the clapper (the big inner ones). They all have names, mostly names of saints.

The statue is the largest existing bronze statue from the Renaissance.

I think the minaret part of the tower is one of the most beautiful things in existence.
:)

You really have to see the Mezquita in Córdoba one day. That's the place where they left the original Mosque standing and built a Cathedral around it. There is no tower like this one but the inside is...well, you have to see it.

[likethebeer.livejournal.com]

I've been in the Mezquita, but I was a kid and had no appreciation.

[pondhopper.livejournal.com]

That means you just have to return.
:)

returning

[likethebeer.livejournal.com]

some day I hope!

[low-delta.livejournal.com]

Oh, I forgot about gender with the articles.

The Mezquita... oh, those arches! Yes, that would be nice.

[likethebeer.livejournal.com]

I thought I could tell the difference right away between the old minaret section of the tower, and the added bell tower; but the more I looked at the tower, the more confusing it got. Ah, well.

[low-delta.livejournal.com]

See the lattice work on either side of the balconies? That's clearly Moorish. And then just above that part is more of that lattice work in a horizontal area? In the second picture, just above there are windows with bells and people. Their elbows are resting on some gray stone. That's where the new construction started. It's in neoclassical or something.

I'm guessing they kept the original floor of the top or the tower, and added on top of that, with new railing and everything.

[likethebeer.livejournal.com]

Ok - that's what I thought at first, but then I got confused when I saw similarities with the different, extensive, geometries.