THE MOSQUE CHAMBER
The second chamber in the Tower, and the first that is open to the public, contains a variety of elements relating to the period when the Islamic building was founded, between 1172 AD (567AH) and 1198 AD (594 AH).
A floorplan of the Mosque, designed by the architect Ahmad ibn Baso, is shown superimposed over the present day Cathedral. Also shown are the genuine Almohad bronze door knockers of the Perdón Gate.
Betweeen the bronze knockers, the most modern and valuable components of the Mosque are two somewhat older simple lamps which were found recently in the building's foundations during an archaeological excavation.
Seen to the right is a revolving representation of the Giralda, showing three basic stages in its design: the Almohad, when it was inaugurated on 10 March 1198, the Christian, when the tower was enlarged by architect Hernán Ruiz in 1568; and last of all a conventional image from the memorable year when the city hosted the 1992 Universal Exposition.