General Archive of Simancas, Simancas, Valladolid at Spain is culture.

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Archives and libraries / Simancas

General Archive of Simancas

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Front page

View of Simancas castle, the site of the General Archive of Simancas © Ministerio de Cultura

Temporary exhibitions

Spies: secret services and encrypted messages in the Hispanic Monarchy

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The General Archive of Simancas is one of the most important in Europe.

It contains all the documentation produced by the government bodies relating to the Spanish monarchy since the time of the Catholic Monarchs (1475) through to the entry of what was known as the Liberal Regime (1834). It therefore comprises the most homogeneous and comprehensive documentary collection of Spain's historical memory from the 16th to the 18th centuries. It is housed in a 16th-century castle built by Juan de Herrera, which has the distinction of being the first building created exclusively for archives in the Modern Era.

Essential works

Drawing of the Aljafería Palace in Zaragoza, from the east

This unusual building has undergone a complete metamorphosis over the nine centuries of its existence, when it has been the site of both culture and historic events.
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Map in perspective of the town of Aranda de Duero

This map of Aranda de Duero, a town located to the south of Burgos, is the oldest cartographic document in the General Archive of Simancas.
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Concord of Segovia between Isabella I of Castile and Ferdinand II of Aragon

This agreement defines the rights and powers of both monarchs in the government of their kingdoms, and marks a milestone on the road to dynastic union.
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Last will and testament of Queen Isabella

The experts highlight the far-reaching personal and political impact of this exceptional manuscript, and consider it one of the most important documents of her reign.
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Temporary exhibitions

Spies: secret services and encrypted messages in the Hispanic Monarchy
Some 70 documents feature in this exhibition divided into three areas: the organisation of espionage, spies and encrypted messages. 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.

Go to Spanish Archives Portal