The Territory of the South Chancery

This exhibition shows part of the collection of maps, plans, and drawings from the Archivo de la Real Chancillería de Granada.

All of these figurative documents share the common denominating factor of having played an integral part in lawsuits and proceedings, where they were submitted as evidence.

The documents that form part of this exhibition illustrate a wide variety of themes in a straightforward way. They can be divided into two broad categories: those that reference architecture and the urban environment, and representations of territory.

Bridge over the Genil River toward Loja (Granada).

Map of the Genil Bridge (Córdoba) from the slopes of Málaga towards Granada, and the confluence of the Genil River and Rigüelo de las Yeguas. This fabric map contains references and legends marking legally disputed properties.

The road from Venta de Linares to Puerto del Rey (Jaén). The old route is shown in blue and the new royal road is marked in red. This was the main communication route between Andalusia and Madrid at the beginning of the 18th century.

Map of the Guadix region (Granada) and of the roads that connect the populations of Guadix, Cúllar, Darro, Píñar, and Iznalloz. The legend on the side of the map, as well as the figures and letters, show the location of the land involved in the law suit.

Bridge on the Guadalquivir River in Baeza (Jaén), as per the plans of Andrés de Vandelvira and Francisco del Castillo el Mozo.

Plan of the Arroyo del Juncal waters and the Albarado and Caño orchards where the source of the Pasil is found, with its system of dams and water mills. Amongst them is the La Vigüela mill at Jerez de los Caballeros (Badajoz).

Dam on the Colomera river to serve crops and woodland in this part of Granada.

Plan of the Dehesa de Villaverde in Montoro (Córdoba) and of the water and threshing mills on the Guadalquivir River.

Plan of the Genil River passing through Brácana en Íllora farm (Granada). Also depicted is the dried meander and the new watercourse.

Map of the town of Mancha Real (Jaén). The town plan of Mancha Real follows a classic model of having a "decumen", (an east-west road) joining a "cardo" (a north-south road) at the town square where the church, town hall, and shops were located. The checkerboard layout of the homestead references the owner of each unit and their corresponding plot of land in the distribution of the new population.

Partial plan of the city of Baza with adjacent cave houses (Granada).

Plan of the Los Teatinos estate (Jaén).

Painted canvas of the land and country estates between El Romeral and Tembleque (Toledo).

Map of the land in Cañete la Real (Málaga).

The Guadalquivir River in Córdoba and a depiction of the city from the Campo de la Verdad.