Add to ORKGThe Great Mosque of Seville was begun in 1172 during the rule of the Almohad caliph Abu Ya'qub Yusuf ibn 'Abd al-Mu'min (1163-1184)....Following the Christian conquest of Seville in 1248 the mosque was consecrated for use as the cathedral of Santa Maria de la Sede. Beginning in the early 15th century the mosque was mostly destroyed to make way for a new Gothic cathedral. The plan of the cathedral closely follows the former footprint of the mosque, making it one of the largest churches in the world. The minaret, which is known as the Giralda after the word for the weathervane placed on its summit, was built in 1184. Source: Archnetexterior, Patio de los Naranjos (Orange Tree Courtyard), entrance detail, east end, 199