Archivo de Indias

Archivo de Indias

The Archivo General de Indias or the archive of “Las Indias or the New World” in Seville is one of the most important archives in the world. In this building you will find more than 10 kilometers of shelves full of very important documentation from the Spanish colonial era in America, from the 16th to the 19th centuries.

Originally, this building was the trade fair from 1584 of the traders' consulate, for gold, silver, herbs, and cocoa between Spain and the “New World”. These products entered Europe via the Guadalquivir in Seville.

In 1777, historian Juan Bautista, along with Minister José de Gálvez, was appointed by King Carlos III to write the history of the New World. It opened in 1785 and since then the archive has 80 million pages of documents reflecting relations between Europe and Latin America. Not only can you find stories about Cristoffel Columbus, Pizarro and Cortés here, but also about Johan Maurits van Oranje-Nassau-Siegen, governor of Dutch Brazil in the 17th century and other facts from the Dutch colonial era. The museum's collection includes documents, photos, drawings, and diaries.

The Archivo General de Indias is an interesting museum in Seville where you learn a lot about the history you can visit for free!

Opening hours:
September 16 to June 15 Mon-Fri from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM.
June 16 to September 15 Mon-Fri from 8:00 AM to 2:30 PM.