The First Journey Around The World
Unravelling the complicated history, science and consequences of the first ever expedition around the world
In collaboration with the National Commission for the Commemoration of the V Centenary of the First Journey Around the World of Fernão de Magalhães and Juan Sebastián Elcano and
The world's longest voyage
In 1519, five ships left Seville in search of the first western route to the Spices Islands
What do you need to sail around the world?
And don't forget your nerves of steel...
"If you want to build a ship, don't drum up the men to gather wood, divide the work, and give orders. Instead, teach them to yearn for the vast and endless sea."Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
The art of mapping
See how the journey changed the existing understanding of the world
A new world of knowledge
Go into the details of the first ever trip around the world
The timeline
What happened before, during, and after the journey
Retrace the route
Follow the steps of the expedition in this interactive map
The Route of Magellan and Elcano (1519–1522)
Travelling used to be very different without the speed and convenience of airplanes...
How long did the first journey around the world take?
Almost 3 years
The expedition route
Who was who?
Learn about the main characters who made the voyage possible
Juan Sebastián Elcano
Discover the epic story of the Basque sailor who proved that the world was round.
“To drown in the abyss-heaven or hell, who cares? Through the unknown, we'll find the new...”Charles Baudelaire
A pinch of clove and nutmeg
How the spices motivated maritime voyages to undiscovered lands
Why Were Spices So Important?
Imagine what supper would be like without any seasoning...
In ship shape
Five naos left Seville for the expedition, only one returned
Hit the deck
Take a tour of the only ship that returned to Sevilla
Pushing the boats out
Join the illustrator Arturo Redondo on a journey around the departure ports
“Keep Ithaca always in your mind. Arriving there is what you are destined for”.Constantine Peter Cavafy
The hazardous return
Two ships arrived at the Spice Islands, but only one made it home
Discover More About The Expedition
The details of the journey
The world before 1520
What could we find in the maps before the Magellan-Elcano expedition?
Marine Navigation Chart
Take a tour through this chart made by the German cartographer Martin Waldseemüller in 1516
When was the Strait of Magellan first sailed?
In 1521
Map of Strait of Magellan (Jodocus Hondius)
The art of sailing
How the art of navigation underwent a series of profound changes.
Encountering other cultural realities
The people that the crew met along the way
What species did the crew spot?
The creatures that Pigafetta recorded in his diary
Discover More About The Exploration
The encounter with the unknown
.
Mapping a "New World"
The transformation of the European conception of the world
"What we should value most highly is that we have traveled around the entire circumference of the world, setting off to the west and returning from the east."Juan Sebastián Elcano
The Manila Galleon Trade Route
Maritime trade and cultural transitions between Asia, America and Europe
Flavors across the seas
A journey through the history of culinary exchanges
What are the Spice Islands now known as?
The Moluccas Islands
Spices in wooden bowls