The Lonja of Seville: A Journey Through 16th-century Spanish History

In the heart of Seville, Spain, the General Archive of the Indies (AGI) is a testament to history. Originally constructed between 1584 and 1646 as the Lonja, an Italianate Spanish Renaissance-style building known as La Casa Lonja, it has served various purposes over the centuries. Useful as a Consulado de mercaderes, it was later the Consulados de Sevilla y Cádiz, Secretarías de Estado y Despacho Universal de Indias, de Estado, Gracia y Justicia, Hacienda y Guerra, Secretaría del Juzgado de Arribadas de Cádiz, Comisaría Interventora de la Hacienda Pública de Cádiz, Dirección General de la Renta de Correos, and the Sala de Ultramar del Tribunal de Cuentas, among other entities.

The grand marble staircase was added in 1787 as part of the restructuring for the AGI. Today, visitors can explore the extensive archive, which contains autograph material from the Conquistadores' time, including Miguel de Cervantes' request for an official post. Over 43,000 volumes and 80 million pages await discovery in this historical gem.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons