Alemanes Street

Illustration by Arturo Redondo of Alemanes Street in Seville in 1519.

Alemanes Street is located in Seville's old town. It owes its name to the fact that German merchants began settling there from the Middle Ages (Alemán being the Spanish word for German). It was also known as Las Gradas Street because of the steps along the front of the Orange Tree Courtyard (Patio de los Naranjos). The location of these steps, between the city's old Moorish silk market (Alcaicería), the city hall, and the port, made them an important commercial hub.

The street gradually became less important during the 15th century, when the city council moved into the current city hall building in Saint Francis Square (Plaza de San Francisco). At the same time, the merchants' exchange (Casa Lonja de Mercaderes) was built, at which point port trade was concentrated there. The street continued to be very central and commercial, rife with illicit activity.