A Church of Pride: La Giralda, by Cassie Hollasch

In my short time in Seville I had the opportunity to visit the famous La Giralda. Although mass isn’t usually held in the church anymore, I couldn’t help noticing the difference between American religious buildings and the Spanish churches/mosques.

One thing that really surprised me was the history behind each building. Many buildings grew and changed with the times often transforming from mosque to temple to cathedral, all while maintaining the same original building. Our tour guide mentioned lots of antiques within the cathedral that seemed to spark a sense of pride. For example, he mentioned that the cathedral held one of the oldest oil paintings of Jesus in Spain. The citizens of Seville are evidently proud of their churches and historical architecture. In fact, during many conversations I’ve had with Spaniards when talking about American buildings one of the big differences they will bring up is history; often saying, “Isn’t everything new in America?” This difference is representative of a big difference in culture. Not to say that American buildings aren’t built with pride, but they are not built with the same intricacy and attention to detail that the cathedrals of Spain are built upon. This may also have to do with the fact, that lots of American buildings are torn down before being rebuilt instead of renewing an old building. This difference in culture reflects the differing values and importance of architecture in both countries.

Article: https://www.odt.co.nz/lifestyle/travel/seville-magic