Alcázar Seville Tour
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The Doors of Seville Cathedral

From the Puerta del Perdón to the Puerta de los Palos — each of the cathedral’s doors, what it depicts and the story behind it.

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The Cathedral of Seville Gates

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Ten gates give access to this cathedral, however, there are three that do not correspond to the initial planning of the Cathedral: the Forgiveness Gate, which was the old entrance to the mosque; the Lizard Gate, which was an access to the Orange Trees Courtyard, and the Tabernacle Gate, which was the entrance to the Church of the same name. This means that the Gothic Cathedral was conceived with seven doors, a magical number that was not chosen at random, and that highlights the symbolism that surrounded medieval cathedrals.
It should also be noted that for the first time in history there are two doors flanking the head chapel, a distribution that will be copied in the Cathedral of Mexico City.

Starting with the west façade, the foot façade, which overlooks the Avenida de la Constitución, there are three portals: the Assumption Gate, the Baptism Gate and the Saint Michele Gate. There is a fourth door in this wing, but it belongs to the Tabernacle Church, not to the Cathedral. On the south façade, bordering Calle Fray Ceferino González, is the Prince Gate. On the east façade, the head, are three door, the Small Bells Gate and the Sticks Gate and Lizard Gate, which is accessed from Plaza Virgen de los Reyes. And on the north façade, parallel to Calle Alemanes, the Forgiveness Gate is located, and inside the Orange Trees Courtyard is the Conception Gate. 

If you want to explore the Cathedral of Seville with an official guide, discover our complete Alcazar and Cathedral guided tour in Seville.

Assumption Gate

It is the main portal of the Cathedral of Seville, the largest one, and is located in the central nave, flanked by the Batism Gate and the Saint Michele Gate and remained unfinished until the end of the 19th century. Its current name comes from the iconography of the tympanum, where the Virgin is represented, surrounded by angels, with open arms. In the archivolts and pilasters, among others, Mary Magdalene, Saint Paul, Saint Thomas Aquinas, Saint Ambrose, Saint Francis of Assisi, Saint Judas Tadeo, Saint Joseph, Saint Peter, Saint John the Baptist, etc. can be identified. This portal is reserved for special ceremonial events and high-ranking ecclesiastical visits.
Puerta Bautismo

Baptism Gate

It is located to the left of the main façade. Built in the 15th century in the Gothic style, it was, together with that of Saint Michele, the first one to be built. Its name comes from the high-relief that presides over the door that represents the scene of the Baptism of Christ in the Jordan River, and to the fact that it is the closest door to the baptismal chapel. In its jambs, in baked clay, Santa Justa, Santa Rufina, San Fulgencio, San Isidoro, San Leandro and Santa Florentina appear.
Puerta de San Miguel

Nativity or Saint Michele Gate

Identical in structure to the door of Baptism, it owes its name to the fact that the Birth of the Child Jesus is represented on the tympanum. Both doors were intended to promote the entrance of faithful to the temple. It is popularly known as Saint Michele, because it is opposite the door of the Saint Michele College, dean of the university colleges founded by the King Alfonso X “the Wise”. The rest of the iconography of this gate focuses, fundamentally, on the New Testament.

Saint Christopher or Prince Gate

This gate, which leads to the southern end of the transept, was completed in the early 20th century in neo-gothic style and is located opposite the Archivo de Indias. It is popularly known as the Prince Gate because it was the one used by the kings due to its proximity to the Reales Alcázares, the royal residence. It lacks sculptural decoration and in front of it there is, since 2011, the copy of the Giraldillo that was used in the restoration of the original at the beginning of the 21st century. During Holy Week, you can access throught this door to watch the passage of the Sevillian brotherhoods in the sepulchral silence of the temple. The name Saint Christopher Gate is due to the large mural painting that is located next to the door. It is curious that the invocation of Saint Christopher was rejected by the Church in the middle of the 20th century, leaving it outside the Catholic saints.
Puerta de Campanillas

Small Bells
Gate

It is one of the two doors that are in the head, next to the Royal Chapel. Its name comes from the bells that called the workers who were building the Cathedral. 

However, the Holy Entry into Jerusalem is represented on the tympanum, which would have to give it its name. Sculptures of prophets and angels also appear to complete the iconography of the door.

Puerta de la Adoración de los Magos

Puerta de los Palos 
o de los Reyes Magos

Despite the fact that a scene with the Epiphany can be seen in the tympanum on this door, which is located on the other side of the Royal Chapel and at the foot of the Giralda, it is popularly known as Sticks Gate, a name that, apparently, comes from the wooden sticks that were stored there during the construction of the Cathedral. It is the door through which the brotherhoods leave the Cathedral during Holy Week. And currently it is the door that opens for the bride and groom who get married in the Royal Chapel.
Puerta Sagrario

Tabernacle Gate

Made at the end of the 17th century, to give access from inside the Cathedral to the recently built Tabernacle Church. It is a solemn door of Renaissance style where San Fernando, Santa Justa and Rufina, San Isidoro and San Leandro appear.
Detalles Puerta Sagrario
Puerta del Lagarto

Lizard Gate

It is a simple door that connects the Cathedral with one of the galleries of the Orange Trees Courtyard. It is famous because two of the cathedral most sought-after objects are hung on it: the wooden crocodile, which gives the door its name, and the elephant tusk. Our guides will make visitors enjoy telling the anecdotes and legends that these exotic objects hide within a sacred space.
Puerta Concepción

Conception Gate

Completed at the end of the 19th century, it is the door that gives access to the Orange Trees Courtyard from the north end of the transept. An Immaculate guards it, hence its name. It must be remembered that Seville was the first city in the world to swear the Conceptionist vow of the Pure and Clean Virgin at the beginning of the 17th century. The vase of lilies is a Conceptionist symbol, due to this it is part of the emblem of the Cathedral Chapter. The iconography of the door is finished off with the Apostles and Christ the King.

Forgiveness Gate

From Calle Alemanes, a pointed horseshoe arch gives access to the Oranges Trees Courtyard. Forgiveness Gate is the oldest gate in the enclosure and also the most exotic. It was built at the end of the 12th century, as the entrance to the Almohad mosque and the decoration of the time and the bronze doors with atauriques and verses from the Koran are still preserved. For this reason, it can be said with propriety that it is not a door of the Cathedral. The main relief represents the Expulsion of the Merchants from the Temple and is accompanied by sculptures of the Archangel Gabriel, the Virgin, Saint Peter, Saint Paul, the latter supported by a third hand. It is tradition that visitors try to discover the location of this hand, as our guides will explain. Its name dates from the beginning of the 15th century, a very common name on the covers of Spanish temples as it is the access for those who repent of their sins.

Getting the gate right matters more than most visitors expect. On our Cathedral and Giralda tour the guide meets you outside and takes the group in through the right one.

Discover the secrets of the Cathedral of Seville

Visit its history, its doors, its altars and its works of art.
With our tour you will discover in detail one of the most beautiful places in the world.

Interior of the Cathedral of Seville

The Cathedral of Seville was created as an architectural madness, being the largest Gothic Cathedral in the world. Going through its interior, with our tours, is a real stimulus for the senses of any visitor.

Art of the Cathedral of Seville

Our tours will show the wealth of paintings, sculptures, stained glass windows, forging, goldsmithing, clothing, books, etc., that make Seville Cathedral one of the great museums in Europe and a historical-artistic compendium of Catholicism.

History of the Cathedral of Seville

Discover the history of the Cathedral of Seville through the centuries and the different historical periods through which it has passed, from the Almohad to the present.

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Visit the Alcazar

Discover the Royal Alcazar of Seville

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Visit the Giralda

Go up and discover the sky of the city of Seville

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Ilustración de la Giralda de Sevilla
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