General Archive of the Indies

Archive of the Indies
Archivo General de Indias (Spanish)
The Archivo de Indias, Seville
Location in Seville
37°23′02″N 5°59′31″W
Location	Seville, Andalusia, Spain
History
Built	16th century
Site notes
Architect(s)	Juan de Herrera Juan de Mijares
Architectural style	Renaissance
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Official name	Cathedral, Alcázar and Archivo de Indias in Seville
Type	Cultural
Criteria	i, ii, iii, vi
Designated	1987 (118th session)
Reference no.	383
Region	Europe

The Archivo General de Indias (Spanish pronunciation: [aɾˈtʃiβo xeneˈɾal de ˈindjas]; standard abbreviation AGI; lit. 'General Archive of the Indies'), often simply called the Archive of the Indies, was created by Charles III and inaugurated in 1785. It is housed in the former merchant guild building in Seville, Spain, built in the late 16th century. It became the repository of archival materials documenting the history of the Spanish Empire in the Americas and Asia. The building was designed by Juan de Herrera; it is an Italianate example of Spanish Renaissance architecture. This structure and its contents were registered in 1987 by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, together with the adjoining Seville Cathedral and the Alcázar of Seville.