Places related to Christopher Columbus in Seville

Seville and its port have been closely linked to the discovery of America, subsequent explorations and trade with Latin American countries.

This means that the city preserves a great historical heritage relating to the discoverer Christopher Columbus and the great explorers, such as Hernán Cortés, Juan Sebastián Elcano, Magallanes, Pizarro, Américo Vespucio and an extensive list of other adventurers and missionaries who departed for America from this city.

In this feature, we will take a route through present-day Seville focusing on Columbus and the discoverers of the New World, as a tribute and homage to one of the greatest epics in universal history, which turned Spain into the first global empire (nowadays known as globalisation) and a nation that spread the Western values that are now the basis of our coexistence. Something to be more than proud of.

Seville is proud to be the port of departure for one of the great epics of history, that spread the values of Hispanic culture

Route through the Seville of the Americas

The Archivo de Indias is the most emblematic place. This Renaissance building, a former fish market, houses historical documents of incalculable value for understanding the discovery of America. On your visit, you will find some memories of the admiral and his portrait.

The Cathedral

Here rests the tomb of Columbus: a coffin carried on the shoulders of 4 kings of arms in full dress, corresponding to the 4 historical kingdoms of Spain: Castile, Leon, Aragon and Navarre.

– The Chapel of San Pedro, where the tomb of Diego Deza, Archbishop of Seville, who played a decisive role as Columbus’ mediator before the Catholic Monarchs, defending his ideas and accompanying him to Salamanca to face the chapterhouse of the University, is located.

– Chapel of the Virgin of Antigua, who the conquerors worshipped, where we can see the flags of the South American countries and the plaque that commemorates when Juan Sebastián Elcano knelt before this Virgin after making the first round-the-world voyage.

– The Alcázar, very close to the previous stop. This is where Columbus was received on his return from his second voyage and where the so-called Sala de Audiencias (Audience Hall) was installed, which is dominated by a large painting of the Virgen de los Mareantes o Navegantes (Virgin of the Sailors or Navigators), whose mantle shelters various figures from the discovery and conquest of the Americas, such as Christopher Columbus, Amerigo Vespucci, Juan de la Cosa, etc.

In the Gothic palace’s vault room, there are several tapestries with scenes related to the discovery of the New World.

– The Columbian Library, which is located next to the Cathedral and contains all the bibliographic legacy of his son Hernando Colón, who is buried in the back of the Cathedral.

– Naval Museum of the Torre del Oro, where we can find paintings of the arrival of the first expedition to the island of Guanahaní and of his portrait.

Along with memories of the discovery of America, such as models of the Three Caravels, a portrait of the Pinzón Brothers, and Juan de la Cosa’s map, among other naval memorabilia.

– Monastery of Santa María de las Cuevas, at La Cartuja de Sevilla, where Columbus’s body was taken after his death, given his affection for the place. His body rested there for 30 years.

It was a place of retreat for the navigator, since he was a visitor to the aforementioned monastery and he prepared his voyage there. This monument’s church is from this period, dating from the 15th century in the Mudejar Gothic style.

– Visit the chapel of Santa Ana, where the body of Columbus lay,  and the gardens that bear his name where we will find his sculpture, donated by the wife of Carlos Pickman, the creator of the Faza factory.

In the gardens, we find a large South American Ombú tree, planted by Hernando Colón at this Monastery.

– Navigation Pavilion, located next to the Cartuja, with a permanent collection on Seville and Atlantic navigation, with models of ships, such as the Nao Victoria, recreating the first round-the-world voyage and the port of departure to the Indies on the Guadalquivir River.

Pavilion of the Dominican Republic at the Ibero-American Exhibition of 1929, at Avenida de la Palmera 19, which reproduces to scale the 16th century Alcázar de Colón, the Viceroy’s palace, with the coat of arms of Diego de Colón.

Other discoverers and explorers

On 10 August 1519, the fleet set out from the port of Seville on the first round-the-world voyage, started by Ferdinand Magellan and completed by Juan Sebastian Elcano.

In the Plaza de Cuba next to the river is the “Milla 0” (Mile 0) monument, where the old Muelle de las Mulas was located. It is a steel sphere three and a half metres in diameter that depicts the symbol of the project and is inspired by the armillary sphere that appears on the cover of the book Suma De Geographia, by Fernández de Enciso, published by the University of Seville in 1519.

In the Naval Museum at the Torre del Oro, we find mementoes of that feat, with a model of the Nao Victoria, the ship that ended the great trip.

Interpretation Centre of the First Round-the-World voyage, beside the Guadalquivir, Paseo del Marqués de Contadero.

At the Archivo de Indias, along with documentation of the trip, we find a portrait of Magellan.

On the Paseo de las Delicias, beside the Guadalquivir, is the  Monument to Juan Sebastián Elcano.