Latin American Roots
Discover the Latin American roots of our region. Andalusia, your Roots.
Andalusia has been establishing close cultural, linguistic, commercial, religious and family links with Latin America since the end of the 15th century. Five centuries of shared history has left two-way traces and connections on both sides of the ocean which bring us together, like some forms of Flamenco. But the same occurs with music in general, folklore, traditions, festivals and literature, painting, architecture and gastronomy …
There are countless instances of places, characters and intangible heritage which have united the destinies of Andalusia and Latin America. Today we have experts in tourism who are a guiding light for helping us to explore and understand the origins of this magnificent heritage we have in common: Santa Fe (Granada) and the Columbian Places in Huelva. From 1503 Seville became the "Gateway to America", because this is where the Contracting Office for the Indies was established, the University of the Sailors' Guild was created in what is now the Palace of San Telmo and the General Archive of the Indies which is the most important documentary source for cultural and commercial relationships between Spain, the flagship of the Known World until then, and the New World. In 1717, the Contracting Office moved to Cadiz and along with it, colonial prominence. Already in the 19th century, the huge emigration of Andalusians from all the provinces had created a close and unbreakable sentimental connection between the people on both sides of the Atlantic which still persists today through their descendants.
Another feature worth exploring and discovering all over Andalusia in the footprint left by renowned and illustrious characters, heroes from everyday life who have forged passionate and historic legends in the Modern and Contemporary Ages in both continents and which have made Andalusia a bridge connecting Latin America and Europe.