Archivo de Indias, ejemplo de arquitectura herreriana.
In 1503, a royal decree established the setting up of the Casa de Contratación de Indias (the House of Trade with the Indies) with the aim of encouraging and regulating trade and maritime traffic with the New World, thereby giving Sevilla a monopoly on trade with the Indies. This acted as a magnet for European merchants with an interest in the new market, and the city became the port and gateway to the Indies. It was also referred to as the “archive of the riches of the world” and the “great Baylon of Span”, as well as “that part of Spain which is better than all the rest”.
The city attracted people from far and wide and new fashions and customs imported from Italy became popular amongst the wealthier classes. However, the Renaissance period in Spain didn’t represent such a radical break with the Middle Ages as elsewhere, but more of a continuation in which the Isabelino and plateresque styles continued to flourish giving way eventually to purism and finally to herreriano.
Examples of this properous period include: palatial houses such as those of Pilatos, Las Dueñas, La Condesa de Lebrija and Los Pinelo; the Hospital de la Sangre or de las Cinco Llagas; convents such as Santa Ines and monasteries such as San Clemente, the San Hermenegildo school; and additions to numerous buildings such as the belfry and Giraldillo on the Giralda tower, and the main altarpiece in the Cathedral. There was also the grand town hall, whose façade facing the Plaza de San Francisco is an excellent example of plateresque style.
With a population of some 120,000 people, 16th century Sevilla was one of the biggest cities in Europe. Judging by the frantic activity in areas like El Arenal, which was busy with the arrival of vessels laden with precious metals, exotic products, and even slaves, and the Alcazar, which at that time acted as the permanet headquarters of the Casa de Contratacion, it also must have been one of the most prosperous. later the Casa Lonja was converted into the Archivo de Indias.