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Travel We marvelled at more gold in the Treasury. Nearly 12,000 gemstones, including diamonds, rubies and emeralds, adorn the 22-karat gold Virgin of Kings crown. One of the largest pearls in the world forms the torso of an angel adorning the diadem. Seville Cathedral also displays a fortune of silver, including silver altars and an ornate silver reliquary with a surprisingly large thorn from Christ’s crown of thorns. An elaborate silver sepulchre encloses the mummified body of King Ferdinand III. When he reclaimed Seville from the Moors in 1248, the Muslim ruler gave him the keys to the city. We viewed the nearly eight-century-old keys in the Treasury. The cathedral also houses the tomb of Christopher Columbus. After Cuba became independent in 1898, 125 grams of his remains were sent to Seville Cathedral in a monument that won a Cuban competition to carry his coffin. DNA testing later confirmed that the remains belonged to Columbus. We were also surprised to learn that Ferdinand III originally built Seville Cathedral inside a 12th-century mosque. Parts of the mosque remain today, including the Courtyard of Orange Trees (where Muslims washed their hands and feet in the fountain before praying) and the minaret, now the Giralda bell tower. Ringing bells resonated as we climbed 35 ramps to the top of the 105-metre-high tower. (Minaret-builders constructed ramps instead of steps, so that the elderly muezzin could ride a donkey to the top to summon the faithful to prayers.) The splendid panoramic views of Seville, its cathedral, Alcázar, Santa Cruz Quarter and Guadalquivir River were a memorable way to end our tour of Spain’s waterfront cities. delmanor.com I discovered that real independence means having the freedom to do what I want, when I want, without being tied to household chores and expenses. True independence means fine dining with friends and enjoying retirement in an active community of like-minded people. My new independence means less worry and more freedom. The real secret? I chose a Delmanor community. RICHMOND HILL (905) 770-7963 DON MILLS (416) 331-9797 ETOBICOKE (416) 233-0725 OAKVILLE (905) 469-3232 NORTH YORK (416) 225-9146 Discover My Secret... A Delmanor Resident Resources For more information, phone the Tourist Office of Spain at (416) 961-3131, e-mail them at Toronto@tourspain.es or visit www.spain.info/en_CA Barb & Ron Kroll publish the trip-planning website www.KrollTravel.com. Angel with pearl torso on gem-covered gold Virgin of Kings crown in Seville Cathedral Treasury Courtyard of Orange Trees in Seville Cathedral 24 | www.snowbirds.org

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