Celebrating the 500th Anniversary of Giovanni de Verrazzano's Historic Voyage of Discovery in New York

A flight away is New York City for many people worldwide.

The Big Apple, with its three major airports, tunnels, bridges, and cruise ship terminals, is easily accessible to millions of visitors each year. They come here to experience the city life, take a selfie with the Statue of Liberty, watch a Broadway show, take a stroll in Central Park, or simply savor a slice of the famous New York pizza.

Many people dream of visiting New York City, which is renowned as one of the best tourist destinations globally.

An Italian explorer from Florence was the first outsider to reach New York Bay and describe it.

Exactly 500 years ago, he arrived with a crew of 50, and he was certainly pleased with the view.

"Verrazzano described in his letter to King Francis a place he discovered after traveling a hundred leagues, which was situated between two small but prominent hills. A wide river, deep at its mouth, flowed out into the sea between these hills."

He was describing the Hudson River as it is known today.

Verrazzano, born in 1485 in Tuscany, is often cited as the birthplace of Castello di Verrazzano. After completing his education in Florence, he embarked on a journey to France and began his career as a navigator. During his travels, he explored the eastern parts of the Mediterranean Sea, which were then known as the Levant. It was during this time that Western traders exchanged European commodities for a variety of goods, including spices and incense.

In 1522, when the Magellan expedition returned to Spain with maps and tales of circumnavigating the globe, European merchants realized that the competition in trade had entered a new phase.

In accordance with historical records, four ships carrying munitions, scientific equipment, and provisions for eight months set sail from France for the New World under the orders of French King Francis the 1st. Verrazzano believed the quickest route to reach the New World was through the northern route. However, a violent storm hit the Northern seas soon after departure, causing the sinking of two ships and damaging a third.

The first ship constructed for a transatlantic voyage, La Dauphine, successfully completed its journey from Madeira to the New World despite its age.

According to Verrazzano's correspondence, they were the first to arrive at the shores of present-day North Carolina and were welcomed by friendly Native Americans.

"Verrazzano informed the King that they anchored off the coast and sent a small boat in to land. Although they saw many people coming to the seashore, they fled when they saw the approaching boat. Several times, the people stopped and turned around to look at the boat in great wonderment. To reassure them, Verrazzano and his crew displayed various signs, and some of the people came up, showing great delight at seeing them and marveling at their clothes, appearance, and whiteness. The people showed them where they could most easily secure the boat and offered them some of their food."

The expedition turned north after failing to find a suitable port in Florida and continued their search for a possible passage to the Pacific.

In 1524, on April 17th, Verrazzano and his crew were the first Europeans to sail into New York Bay. They observed a vast entrance to the Hudson River and a significant population of native inhabitants.

Verrazzano described the Lenape tribe as people adorned in colorful bird feathers, who approached us with excitement and exclaimed in amazement.

As he journeyed along the Long Island Sound, he was captivated by the people of this new land. When his ship docked in Narragansett Bay, 20 canoes approached his vessel, filled with curiosity about the big ship and its European passengers. The crew offered them beads and small gifts, and some of the native men even boarded La Dauphine.

"Verrazzano reported that among the people they encountered were two kings who were as tall and muscular as he could describe. These individuals were the most beautiful and had the most refined customs that they had discovered on their voyage. Their behavior was pleasant and soft."

The Native Americans were very generous, but strangely uninterested in the items that he deemed most valuable.

"The items that the recipients valued the most were small bells, blue crystals, and other accessories to wear on the ear or neck. They did not appreciate silk or gold cloth, nor did they desire any other type of material, nor did they care for steel or iron weapons, as they often examined the craftsmanship but did not admire or request them. Similarly, they examined mirrors quickly but ultimately refused them, laughing."

The Narragansett Indians hosted Verrazzano and his crew for approximately two weeks, and the explorer later described the village, diet, and lifestyle of the native people.

As he sailed north, the native tribes seemed more hostile, and he was reportedly driven from shore while trying to land.

King Francis was honored by Verrazano, who named the newly discovered lands after him. However, Verrazano returned home to France without discovering a route to the Pacific.

He embarked on three expeditions to the New World, exploring the Bahamas and Caribbean Islands during his third voyage. Unlike the lush green North American mainland, the islands were barren and devoid of wildlife. The inhabitants of the islands relied solely on the sea for their food supply. There were rumors that some of the malnourished Caribbean tribes might have been cannibals.

According to many historians, when Verrazzano reached the island of Guadeloupe and went ashore, he was captured, killed, and eaten by cannibals.

The Dutch Republic bought Manhattan from the Native Americans and named it New Amsterdam, eclipsing the colorful journeys of Henry Hudson.

In 1664, the English seized New Amsterdam and renamed it New York after the Duke of York. Nevertheless, British rule was short-lived.

On September 13, 1788, New York City was designated as America's first capital under the Constitution of the United States. Seven months later, on April 30, 1789, General George Washington was inaugurated as the first president of the United States on the balcony of New York's Federal Hall.

The New World attracted many seeking a better life and fortune, making New York City a symbol of freedom and a destination for immigrants.

In the latter half of the 20th Century, Verrazzano's status as the European explorer of New York harbor was restored.

The suspension bridge linking Staten Island and Brooklyn in New York City was named after an Italian explorer. It holds the record for being the longest bridge in the US.

In New York's Battery, a statue of Verrazzano stands, overlooking the bay and close to the National Museum of the American Indian, where the native people of this land are depicted in vivid and colorful detail in his letters to the French King.

500th anniversary of Giovanni da Verrazzano's arrival at New York Bay.