History marks many places in the province of Cádiz. Sanlúcar de Barrameda is the port from which the Magellan fleet departed to go around the world and discover new trade routes. This advance, together with the discovery of America, marked the wealth and abundance of the Spanish Empire. Here we leave you some very interesting places that are related to the first round the world.
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Equatorial Clock Legua Cero
An iron equinoctial band with the hours punched out in Roman numerals. It is located in the place where the ships departed for the expedition. In it is inscribed a quote from the text of Antonio Pigafetta, the expedition’s chronicler: “From the time we left Sanlucar Bay until we returned to it we traveled, according to our account, more than fourteen thousand four hundred and sixty leagues, and we gave the Around the World”.
Chapel of Our Lady of Carmen de Bajo de Guia
In this chapel, there is an image from the 16th century, the patron and protector of the men of the sea. It taken by the Sanlucan sailors to pray to them and take their worship to America and the Philippines. The walls of the chapel are decorate with wall paintings made by Maireles in 1938.
The Nao Victoria
The replica of one of the five ships that managed to return to Sanlúcar. It is a 1: 8 scale model of the original. The name comes from the church of Santa Maria de la Victoria de Triana, where Magellan swore to serve King Carlos I. The original ship built in the shipyards of Zarauz, in the Basque Country. The cargo he brought with him from the Moluccan Islands more than covered the expenses of the entire expedition.
Commemorative tiles
There are several tiles scatter around the city on the same theme. Next to the beaches of Sanlúcar a two-sided ceramic mural has installed, commemorating the first round the world tour. On the one hand, Magellan with the five ships about to depart; on the other, Elcano with a recreation of Sanlucar in 1519. In the library we can also find another set that presents: it contains the eighteen names of the sailors who survived and arrived in the only ship; it has a portrait of Magellan and Elcano and the ship Victoria, with the motto Primus circundedisti, the first one that you surrounded me; a map with the itinerary of the trip in the first circumnavigation.
Castle of Santiago
They built this fortress in the 15th century by the 2nd Duke of Medina Sidonia. It is located in one of the corners of the walled city, dominating the mouth of the Guadalquivir river. The defense of the banks of the Guadalquivir was crucial. For the good development of trade in the port of Sanlúcar and on the journey to Seville.
If you want to know more about this incredible adventure that changed the history of Spain and the Spanish Empire, contact us and we will design the best trip adapted to your tastes, schedules and needs.