Seville

History

How the city came to be

Seville's old town preserves the legacy of three eras: Islamic al-Andalus, the Christian kingdoms and transatlantic trade. The earliest core of the Real Alcázar dates back to the tenth century and was continually enlarged; it holds Almohad-era remains as well as Mudéjar architecture built for the Christian monarchs. In 1248 the city passed to the Kingdom of Castile, and the Giralda, the minaret of the former mosque, later became the cathedral's bell tower; the cathedral was begun in the early fifteenth century on the site of the former mosque. From 1503 to 1718 Seville was the main trading port for Spain's routes to the Americas, and the city prospered on shipping and royal power. The sixteenth-century merchants' exchange later became the Archivo de Indias, which holds vast numbers of colonial-era documents. In 1987 the Alcázar, the cathedral and the archive were inscribed together as a World Heritage Site. When you visit these three, look beyond their architectural styles and consider the historical background linking them to colonial expansion and transoceanic trade.

1. 10th centuryThe early core of the Real Alcázar is built.
2. 1248The Kingdom of Castile takes Seville.
3. 1403Work on the cathedral begins on the site of the old mosque.
4. 1503–1718Seville dominates the trade routes to the Americas.
5. 1585The building that later became the Archivo de Indias begins construction as a merchants' exchange.
6. 1785The building becomes the Archivo de Indias.
7. 1929The Plaza de España is built for the Ibero-American Exposition.
8. 1987The three historic buildings are inscribed as a World Heritage Site.

Stories

Stories of the city