The General Archives of the Indies

This large square building is home to the General Archives of the Indies. By Indies, we mean the Americas, discovered by Christopher Columbus. The discovery of the New World in 1492 marked the end of the Middle Ages, transforming Seville into Europe’s main port to the American continent. In the 18th century, King Charles III of Spain decided to bring together all the records related to Spain’s overseas colonies under one roof. The archives were thus established in the former Merchants’ Exchange, built two centuries earlier. This trading hall was originally used for the gold, silver, spices, and cacao commerce between Spain and the New World. Since their founding in 1785, the archives have collected more than 80 million pages of historical records. Today, they hold the most important collection of documents relating to the political, economic, and cultural history of Spain’s colonial empire. Among its treasures are documents signed by Christopher Columbus, Magellan, Pizarro, and Cortés—names that were once dreaded by the Aztecs and Incas. Many of these records are available online, and visitors can access the archive’s temporary exhibitions for free. For those curious about Seville’s global legacy, this is a place you won’t want to miss.