Alvaro Alonso Barba

Alvaro Alonso Barba was a Catholic priest and metallurgist born in Lepe, a town in the province of Seville, in Andalusia, Spain, in 1569. He was baptized on November 15, 1569, which, according to the customs of Spain at that time, indicates that he was born a few days earlier. Antonio (1786) says, "Baeticus ex oppido Lepe, apud Potosi"; hence Barba is assumed to be of Andalusian origin, from the ancient Roman province of Baetica. He held a degree in theology and traveled to Peru around 1606, holding priestly positions in churches in various localities.