They are free of religious iconography, which was linked to Spain and the colonial yoke.

BBC: The Recoleta Cemetery: Silent theatre and city of the dead

In Manila, Spain is restoring the former colonial administration building, La Intendencia, to house part of the archives.

CNN: Glancing Back

Different cultures from Spain, Latin America and the Philippines met here during the colonial era and created a remarkable cultural heritage.

UNESCO: Culture

Another was added after Spain went to war with Britain in 1804, and tried to increase its colonial revenues, especially from Mexico.

ECONOMIST: Millennium issue: Freeing Spanish America