The Goods that Passed Through Cádiz

The golden age of Cádiz

The 18th century is considered the "Golden Age of Cádiz," as the city became the only port to secure a substantial monopoly over Spanish trade from 1717 onward.

Cádiz was transformed into the richest, most cosmopolitan, and most commercial city in Spain. It was a metropolis where people and goods hailing from all four corners of the world crossed paths on their way to new destinations, creating a bubble known as the "Global Emporium."

Velvet swatches (samples)

A wave of merchandise and goods passed through the Customs Office of Cádiz; consignments arrived and were loaded onto the ships destined for overseas, and more goods came from the American colonies and other ports.

Cloth swatch (textile sample)

The Cádiz customs office received royal orders from the court on a daily basis. Instructions were given on processing the goods that entered and left the peninsular borders of Spain.

List of books and goods belonging to the Marquis of Ureña

Gaspar de Molina, Marquis of Ureña, was an enlightened lover of science, architecture, and the arts. In 1787, he traveled through Europe, taking note of everything that aroused his curiosity.

List of items and papers from the expedition of the "Descubierta" (discovery) and "Atrevida" (daring) corvettes

The Malaspina Expedition is considered a great demonstration of Spanish scientific exploration. Setting sail from Cádiz, the corvettes traveled through a large part of the overseas colonies, collecting animals and objects.

Throughout the voyage, observations of the discoveries made were recorded and depicted in a detailed diary and various drawings.

Drawing of the archaeological remains found at the excavation of the First Aguada in Cádiz

The First Aguada was one of the places where ships were supplied with drinking water before they set sail.

This drawing was among the documents found when archaeological remains of the First Aguada in 1838 were discovered following a storm. Several sepulchers and objects were found. The documents contain information about the fate and fortune of the archaeological treasure.

Writings about the New Testament and the Gospels of Saint Luke in a romani language (also known as the gypsy gospel), confiscated from Englishman George Borrow

George Borrow disseminated the Protestant Bible across Spain, in cities such as Madrid and Seville, and was known as "Jorgito el Inglés" (Little George the Englishman).

After selling these Bibles at a low price, he was arrested in Seville, and the books were requisitioned and sent to London via Cádiz.

List of goods, food, wine, and liquors from the "Peredo Puerto Chico" warehouse in Cádiz

Small grocery stores and corner shops were run by mountaineers from Cantabria, who had started settling in the city since the 18th century, receiving of all kinds of goods in the port city.

Poster publicizing the book "España y Marruecos. Historia de la Guerra de África" (Spain and Morocco. A history of the African war)

According to the advertisement, the author accompanied the expeditionary army and has an in-depth knowledge of the locations and events of the war, offering a detailed history of the lives of the troops in the Moroccan Empire.

Request sent by Francisco de la Viesca to the Civil Governor of Cádiz

At the beginning of the 20th century, there was only one registered vehicle in Cádiz: the CA-1. It belonged to Francisco de la Viesca. It had room for four passengers and was made by a Parisian car manufacturer, Darracq and Co. It had an external combustion, six-horsepower naphtha engine, and a maximum weight of 1,322 pounds.

Photograph of the bust and body of Emperor Trajan of Rome

In 1980, this magnificent, decapitated sculpture was discovered at the archaeological site of Baelo Claudia, south of Cádiz, (the head was found at its feet).

According to the French archaeologists who led the excavation, the sculpture was given a prominent position between two columns in the Roman basilica, just in front of the magistrates' rostrum (podium), where public proceedings took place.