Styles
In this section you can search all our contents throughout the different stages in the history of art in Spain, to find styles such as Baroque, Gothic, Mudejar and many, many more.
Modernism and Avant-garde movements
The turn of the century brought new winds of modernity. The aesthetic sensibility of the time was marked by a different, freer attitude towards art and life.
Topics
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General Archive of the Indies
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Front page
View of the exterior of the General Archive of the Indies. Seville © Turespaña
Vault inside the General Archive of the Indies. Seville © Turespaña
Category
Archive
Avenida de la Constitución, 3 (Edificio de la Lonja)
41071 Seville
Seville, Andalusia
41071 Seville
Seville, Andalusia
The General Archive of the Indies came into being in 1785 at the behest of King Charles III, for the purpose of collecting in a single place all the documents referring to the colonies in the Indies, which had until then been dispersed around the towns of Simancas, Cadiz and Seville.
It is housed in the emblematic building known as the Casa Lonja de Mercaderes in Seville, built by the architect Juan de Herrera. It contains over 43,000 documents, with some 80 million pages of original papers which occupy eight linear kilometres of shelving. These collections comprise an exceptional source which provides the opportunity to scrutinise over three centuries of the history of America (from Tierra de Fuego to the southern United States) and Asia (the Philippines).
Essential works
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48 examples of cards from the Royal Factory of Macharaviaya
Cards for this popular pastime, made by the factory which exclusively controlled the production destined for America.
More info -
Capitulations of Santa Fe
The signed agreement between Columbus and the Catholic Monarchs regarding the project to find a new western route towards the East Indies.
More info -
Handwritten letter from Christopher Columbus to his son Diego
Most of Coumbus' private letters conserved in the Archive are addressed to his son Diego.
More info -
Catalogue of European fabric samples
The most delicate and luxurious fabrics in such demand by the elite society in the colonies came from European countries such as France and Holland.
More info -
Pre-Columbine cultures. Palenque Mayan ruins
The city of Palenque, in the eastern mountains of Chiapas, was already abandoned when Mexico was conquered
More info -
Inca coat of arms
Coat of arms awarded by the Emperor Charles V to Don Cristóbal Paullo Inca, on 9 May 1545.
More info -
Christopher Columbus' coat of arms
Enlargement of the coat of arms granted to Columbus by the Catholic Monarchs as a recompense for his services.
More info
Collections
The collections in the archive can be accessed through the Portal of Spanish Archives (PARES), created for the purpose of disseminating over the Internet the Spanish Historical Documents conserved in its network of centres.
Come and visit
Timetables
Sep 16 to Jun 15
Monday A Friday
8:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Jun 16 to Sep 15
Monday A Friday
8:00 AM to 2:30 PM
Services
In-house consultation
Exhibitions
Issue of certificates
Reprography service
Guided tours
Multimedia
Very interesting
