Giovanni da Verrazzano Brochure

By Scarlett Barlow

Giovanni da Verrazzano

Backstory

Giovanni da Verrazzano was born in 1485, in Tuscany, Italy. He sailed for King Francis l of France on an expedition to the Americas. He was sent to explore the area between Newfoundland and Florida in 1824 in hopes that France could stake claim to some land in the 'New World.'

Above is a portrait of Giovanni da Verrazzano.

route to the americas

Because of Verrazzano, the French started claiming land in the Americas. His first voyage occured the same time Ferdinand Magellan sailed around the world, so his trip was largely overshadowed.

Claim to fame

Verrazzano was known for being adventurous. He went on two more voyages to the Americas in 1527 and in 1528. He died on his second voyage in Lesser Antilles. He was the first European to name places in the Americas after people and places in Europe, naming the land he discovered Francesca after the French king. He was also the first European to discover present day New York, Block Island, and Narragansett Bay.

Above is a painting of Verrazzano's ship, La Dauphine.