tyle. The cathedral is inaccessible on the
south side, that which we first reach in coming from the Alcazar. It is
enclosed here within a long Italian facade of about thirty to forty feet
elevation, ornamented by a row of Ionic pilasters, supporting an elegant
frieze and balustrade. We therefore ascend the raised pavement, which,
bounded by a series of antique shafts of columns, surrounds the whole
enclosure; and having passed down the greater part of the east end, find
a small portal close to the Giralda, which admits to the church through
the court of orange-trees. Before we enter, we will look round on this
view, which possesses more of the Moorish character, than that which
awaits us in the interior. Some idea of the general plan of these
buildings will be necessary, in order that you may perfectly understand
our present point of view.

I mentioned above, that the general enclosure formed a square. This
square, the sides of which face the four points of the compass, is
divided by a straight line into two unequal parts, one being about a
third wider than the other. The direction of the line is east and west;
to the south of it is the cathedral, to the north, the Moorish court of
orange-trees. The Arab Tower, now called the Giralda, stands in the
north-east angle of the cathedral, and the small door, through which we
have just entered, in the south-eastern angle of the court, is close by
it.

The court is surrounded by buildings; for besides the church on its
south side, a chapel called the Sagrario, runs down the entire western
end. The east side and half the north are occupied by arcades, which
support the library, the gift of the son of Columbus to the cathedral;
and the remaining half side by a sacristy. The buildings of the east and
north sides lean against the old embattled wall on the outside. The
chapel of the Sagrario to the west is in the Italian style. Avenues of
orange-trees, and a marble fountain of a simple but choice design, are
the only objects which occupy the open space. Throughout it reigns an
eternal gloom, maintained by the frowning buttresses and pinnacles of
the cathedral, which overhang it from the south.

[Illustration: INTERIOR OF THE CATHEDRAL, SEVILLE.]

A small doorway, near to that by which we entered the court, gives
access to the cathedral at all hours. On entering an almost more than
twilight would confuse the surrounding objects, did it immediately
succeed the sunshine of Andaluci