La carriera ‘italiana’ dell’informatore e mercante Lope de Almeida, cappellano di Filippo II

This paper, based on ongoing research, outlines the conscious choice of the Portuguese cleric Lope de Almeida to support the Spanish Monarchy before he became Philip II’s confessor. Our aim is to examine, for the first time, unpublished documents relating to his journeys to Italy – in particular to the Republic of Venice – between 1575 and 1577. Whilst in the Serenissima, Lope forged a fruitful bond with the Spanish ambassador, began to file monthly reports to Madrid, established a long-standing relationship with members of the local nobility, and traded diamonds.