General Archive of the Indies

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 Carlos 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.