The "Gothic Cathedrals" series includes most famous and beautiful ...
The "Gothic Cathedrals" series includes most famous and beautiful ...
"History of Railroads" proof series is dominated by a splendid ...
"History of Railroads" proof series is dominated by a splendid ...
"History of Railroads" proof series is dominated by a splendid ...
This special coin is issued to commemorate the beloved St. Blessed ...
In 2011 Israel celebrates 63 years of independence and the ...
This issue is the fourth in a series of silver coins called Windows of Heaven featuring full-color stained glass inserts from famous churches and cathedrals around the world. This release features Seville (Spain), the largest Gothic cathedral and the third-largest church in the world. Held up against the light, the window will become translucent and show the intricate design in full splendor.
Seville Cathedral
The Cathedral of Seville (Catedral de Sevilla) is an expression in stone of post-Reconquest confidence and wealth. Built on the site of a mosque, it is the third largest church in Europe and the largest Gothic building in Europe. It also boasts the largest altarpiece in the world.
Built on the site of a grand Almohad Mosque, Seville's cathedral was built to demonstrate the city's power and wealth after the Reconquista. In the planning stages, a member of the chapter is said to have commented, "we shall have a church of such a kind that those who see it built will think we were mad".
Inspired by this goal, the canons of Seville renounced all but a subsistence level of their incomes to fund the construction. The cathedral was completed in just over a century (1402-1506), quite an achievement given its size and Gothic details. It was probably designed by the French master architect of Rouen Cathedral.
Along with the city's Alcazar and Archivo de las Indias, Seville Cathedral was designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1987.
