Spain 2026 - Archivo de Indias

We had another break in the rain! We spent the afternoon at the Archivo de Indias (General Archives of the Indias), a building started in 1546, and served as a University for Merchants, Merchant Exchange, and finally a document repository for Spain's presence in the Indies. 

We went to see the building, but it still functions as a research environment - you can investigate all you want! 

Model of the building 

The two floors connect by a fabulous staircase, created in 1785.

Quote from the Main staircase plaque:

In 1785 Carlos III decreed that the Casa Lonja building would be repurposed as the General Archive of the Indies. The adaptation works were directed by the architect Lucas Cintora, who designed the magnificent two-flight staircase, decorated with red and black marble brought from Malaga. The impressive vault and the Plus Ultra emblem, which also decorates other parts of the building, complete the ensemble.

Three sides of the building are made up of halls full of documents 

These surround a courtyard 

And have fantastic views of the Plaza del Triunfo.

Here's the cathedral (L), Casa de la Provincia (C), and the Alcázar (R). The obelisk and statue in the center is the Monumento a la Inmaculada Concepción

Here's a close up

The walls and entrance to the Alcázar 

There are portraits and busts scattered throughout 

Christopher Columbus 

Cortés 

Cervantes 

These are examples of the strongboxes and document boxes used.

From the plaque: 

From the Middle Ages onwards, strongboxes with complicated mechanisms were used to store money and valuables. They were conceived in southern Germany...

The most surprising feature of these safes was their sophisticated locking system, which was not located on the front of the box, but under its lid.

The model preserved in the Archive has the characteristics of this type of safe deposit box. In this case, the lock operates 16 latches.

German Strongbox possibly from 1537

Document box from 1567

Even the floors are artistic!

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For more photos, see the Spain 2026 album.