Giovanni da Verrazzano

Map of 1524 voyage

Giovanni da Verrazzano (1485 – 1528) was a Florentine explorer of North America. He is known for being the first European since the Norse colonization of the Americas around 1000 to explore the east coast of North America between South and North Carolina and Newfoundland, including New York Harbor and Narragansett Bay in 1524. The Verrazano-Narrows Bridge is named for him.

He was chosen in 1524 by the King of France to search for a “Northwest Passage” to Asia through North America. He left in January 1524, and reached Cape Fear in North Carolina on March 1, 1524. He then sailed north to explore the coastline, and believed that he had seen the Pacific Ocean (he explored North Carolina coast on the other side of a narrow piece of land). He actually discovered the Pamlico Sound, which is part of the Atlantic Ocean. Verrazzano’s mistake meant that incorrect maps were printed in Europe. They showed North America as split into two parts, connected by a narrow strip of land. This error took over a century to correct.

Verrazzano discovered New York Harbor, Block Island and Narragansett bay while exploring the Atlantic coast of North America. He missed some important discoveries because he often anchored far off-shore. He sailed further north to Maine and Newfoundland, and then returned to France with his discoveries. He made two more trips to the Americas after that.

There are conflicting reports on how he died. One version says he was killed and eaten by natives on Guadalupe Island. Another says he was executed for piracy in Spain. New York Harbor’s Verrazano Narrows Bridge commemorates his journey and his discoveries.