The Archivo General de Indias, also known as the General Archive of the Indies, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Seville, Andalusia. It stands on Avenida de la Constitución, a short walk from the city's cathedral and the Alcázar, and it is one of the places in Seville where the city's long connection with the Americas becomes concrete.
The building was constructed in the 16th century as a merchants' exchange, a place where traders met to do business. Its later role as an archive gives it a different purpose today, though the handsome Renaissance-era hall still makes a strong impression on visitors.
What the archive holds
The archive preserves documents relating to the Spanish colonies in the Americas and the Philippines. Its collection runs to more than 80 million pages, a body of material that records administration, trade, law and daily life across the territories Spain governed overseas. For anyone interested in history, it is a rare chance to see how that record was kept.
Planning a visit
- Address: Avenida de la Constitución, 3, 41001 Sevilla, Spain
- Phone: +34 954 500 528
- Best suited to: visitors with an interest in colonial history, archives, or the wider story of Seville as a port city
Because it sits in the historic centre, the archive pairs easily with a wider day of sightseeing. The cathedral, the Alcázar and the streets around Plaza del Triunfo are all within walking distance, so a visit here fits naturally into a morning or afternoon of exploring the old city.
