FOUR DECADES OF DOCUMENTATION OF THE ALMOHAD GIRALDA: 1984-2024

The Giralda, the former minaret of the Almohad mosque built at the end of the 12th century and transformed into a bell tower in the 16th century by Hernán Ruiz II, is one of the most emblematic monuments of universal architecture and an undisputed symbol of Seville. Its imposing size and refined design have inspired admiration since its origin, generating numerous artistic representations in paintings, reliefs, and engravings throughout history.

However, despite its fame, the tower has lacked rigorous technical documentation for centuries. Until well into the 20th century, graphic studies were scarce and, in many cases, imprecise—a common situation in Spanish monumental heritage. The architectural complexity of the Giralda—with four different facades adapted to the development of its interior ramp—made its complete analysis difficult, as traditionally only the most visible faces were represented, leaving others practically unstudied due to the visual interference of the Gothic cathedral.

Some previous attempts, such as the drawings published in 1925 by Manuel Guichot or those by Fernando Chueca Goitia, provided advances but presented metric or interpretative limitations. The real change occurred from 1984 onward, when the Cathedral Chapter of Seville promoted actions in response to structural problems detected in the tower.

From that point forward, an ambitious process of systematic and scientific documentation was developed, sustained for more than three decades with the collaboration of architects, researchers, and the School of Architecture of Seville. The work began with the Renaissance crown, more accessible for measurement, and advanced toward the complex Almohad body, whose height, decorative richness, and difficulty of access had until then prevented precise surveying.

Between 1974 and 2024, the documentation of the great minaret of the main mosque of Seville, built by the Almohads and later converted into the bell tower of the present cathedral, has been addressed in a continuous and systematic manner. This work has remedied the limited information previously available and is also a good example of the evolution of documentation techniques through photogrammetry throughout this period. This documentation has served the conservation efforts of the monument and, in turn, has benefited from the information and facilities that the various restoration interventions have provided.

This sustained effort has also made it possible to generate, for the first time, complete and rigorous planimetry of the monument, overcoming a historical deficiency and laying the foundations for its conservation, study, and dissemination. The Giralda is thus consolidated not only as a heritage icon but also as a reference in the architectural documentation of historical heritage https://icolombina.es/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/TVR00.pdf

Reference: Almagro Gorbea, A. (2025). Documentation of the Almohad Giralda (1984-2024). In Cathedral Chapter of Seville (Ed.), Turris Fortissima 2015-2025 (pp. XX–XX). Seville: Cathedral Chapter of Seville / Royal Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando, “pp. 68–98”