General Archive of the Indies, Historical archive and museum at Plaza del Triunfo, Seville, Spain
The General Archive of the Indies is an archive and museum building with Renaissance design located at Plaza del Triunfo in Seville. The three-story structure contains vaulted floors and rectangular side halls organized around a central courtyard.
King Charles III established this institution in 1785 to gather documents from Spanish territories across the Americas and Asia in one central location. This decision reflected the reorganization of Spanish colonial administration during the Enlightenment period.
The archive holds documents connected to Luis de Santángel, the financial administrator who funded Columbus's first voyage across the Atlantic. These records show how Seville was at the heart of early exploration and colonial expansion.
The collection offers extensive materials that give visitors a good overview of the documentation; staff on-site can help guide your path through. Plan enough time to browse the display sections and take photographs of items that interest you.
The archive holds roughly 9 kilometers of shelving with documents, including Columbus's own personal journals and maps. These original artifacts give insight into how early expeditions were planned and recorded.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
