In the 16th century, Seville was the most cosmopolitan city and the most important port in Castile, and probably in Europe—above all thanks to its trade with the West Indies, what we now know as the Americas. But the voyages that set sail from here went much further. The best example is the first circumnavigation of the world. Seville is currently commemorating the 5th centenary of this feat, so in this post we will explain what the route involved, what you can visit today to relive it, and what events are taking place in the Andalusian capital.
What the first circumnavigation of the world involved
The first circumnavigation of the world, also known as the first voyage to sail around the planet, was a maritime expedition organised by the Spanish Crown, primarily to explore a new trade route for spices.
The expedition was commanded by the Portuguese navigator Ferdinand Magellan, leading a fleet of five ships and nearly 250 crew members. They departed from the port of Seville on 10 August 1519, and Magellan remained in charge during the first stretch of the route. He took them across the Atlantic Ocean: the Canary Islands, Cape Verde, the coasts of what are now Brazil and Argentina. Then they continued through the Strait of Magellan (named in his honour), Cape Horn (Chile), and various islands in the Pacific Ocean, until reaching the Philippine Islands, where he died in April 1521.
After this, and following a reorganisation due to the many losses, Juan Sebastián Elcano became captain. He crossed the Indian Ocean and rounded Africa to the south at the Cape of Good Hope. From there, the route brought them back to Seville, via Cape Verde and Sanlúcar de Barrameda. Thus, on 8 September 1522, the first circumnavigation of the world was effectively completed, with Seville as both the departure point and the final destination.
Routes and events to commemorate the first circumnavigation of the world in Seville
Such an important anniversary (1519/1522–2019/2022) certainly deserves a rich programme of commemorative events—and that is exactly what has been taking place in Seville in recent years. These are some of the highlights:
- Seville’s First Circumnavigation of the World Space: this is the Nao Victoria 500, a full-scale replica of the original Nao Victoria, the only one of the five ships that completed the feat. It includes an explanatory exhibition. Here you can visit its official website
- Theatre productions and other performing and musical arts, in iconic locations such as Plaza de España
- Commemorative nautical competitions
- Lectures and academic activities
On this website, you can consult the official events calendar. In addition, there are other monuments and places of interest where you can learn more about the importance of the port of Seville in relation to this and other maritime feats, such as the Torre del Oro (Seville Naval Museum), the Reales Atarazanas (check whether they are open due to Covid-19-related matters) or the General Archive of the Indies.
And of course, if you need an agency to organise a tailor-made trip to discover in detail the commemoration of the first circumnavigation of the world in Seville, simply get in touch with Andalucía Exclusiva. We will be delighted to relive this great anniversary with you.
