Chapel of the Real Maestranza de Artillería de Sevilla

The Royal Spanish Academy defines a maestranza , in its second meaning, as " the set of workshops and offices where the assemblies for the artillery pieces are built and reassembled , as well as the carriages and tools necessary for their service".

In 1985, the Maestranza de Artillería was declared a Property of Cultural Interest in the Monument category.

When King Alfonso Therefore , a few ships were assigned to store cannons, powder and other military equipment . From the 16th century, with the overseas trade, these ships close to the sea were largely used to store goods. In 1502, during Columbus 's preparations for his fourth voyage to the Indies, he requested ammunition from the arsenal of the Atarazanas. From 1513, the Casa de Contratación de Indias (located in Seville since 1503) had a powder magazine, a school and a naval and land artillery service, and the Alcázar housed an armory. The city also had an important artillery factory in the San Bernardo district.

In 1552, a Royal Decree ordered that a large quantity of weapons should always be kept in the Atarazanas: "1500 arquebuses, 500 coseletes, 10500 morriones, 200 quintals of gunpowder, 500 field pikes, 100 half pikes, 300 dozen gorgets and 200 halberds and partesanas”. During the occupation of Portugal by the Duke of Alba (1580-1583), weapons from the Atarazanas in Seville, close to Portuguese land, were used. As a result, in 1587, Philip II authorized the installation of workshops and foundries on his ships to permanently produce weapons.

In the 18th century, artillery would become more important in warfare, both horse-drawn and human-borne. In 1719, by Royal Decree, the Maestranza de Artillería was installed in 5 of the warehouses of the Atarazanas.

In 1758, Juan Manuel de Porres drew a plan showing where the coal bunker, forges, offices, etc. were located. In 1785, Prince Charles III gave permission to carry out some renovations. At the rear of the nave was a chapel where a painting of Santa Bárbara, patron saint of artillerymen, by Alonso Miguel Tovar was placed in the 18th century. This was replaced in the 19th century by a copy of an Immaculate Conception by Murillo. Another notable piece was a large iron bowl from the 18th century by the blacksmith Sebastián Conde. The current facade dates from 1786 . In 1873, many of the weapons used in the cantons of Seville and Malaga left these warehouses.

The Maestranza de Artillería was in operation until 1970 . In that year its production function ceased and it became a recruitment centre, archive and offices . In 1993, the Junta de Andalucía bought it from the Ministry of Defense, abandoned it and carried out archaeological research on the building. At the same time, the dividing walls, false ceilings and new enclosures were removed to expose the old buildings, which were then used for cultural visits.

Willem Vandenameele