There was a time when the sea was more than an obstacle: it was an enemy. There was a time when the wonders of Asia were as far away for Europeans as the Moon is far away for us today, or rather Mars. There was a time when brave navigators on the verge of unconsciousness tried everything to reach the Moluccas, islands in the Indian Ocean full of every known wonder, from spices to the rarest plants, passing through precious stones.
These intrepid seamen, worthy companions of the heroes of Verne and Salgari, are the protagonists of the beautiful novel " Magellano and the treasure of the Moluccas " (Rizzoli, 2022, pp. 222, also e-book) written with a vigorous adventurous spirit by Gianluca Barbera . Starting point historical reality: in the sixteenth century journeys across the oceans had just begun and the New World had barely been discovered by Christopher Columbus. The entire globe was divided, however, between the two greatest maritime powers of the time, Spain and Portugal. An imaginary line ran between the Spanish and Portuguese spheres of influence, which was forbidden to cross or run the risk of war. Too bad that just where the line ran there were the Moluccas with their treasures, so desired by the King of Spain. What to do to get them? Going to war against the ruler of Portugal?
Perhaps, however, another way exists. A route indicated by a reckless navigator like few, but like few mysterious and inscrutable: Ferdinando Magellano . Although he is Portuguese, Magellan has decided to offer his services to Spain and suggests that they try to reach the Moluccas not by circumnavigating Africa and crossing the waters controlled by the Portuguese. No, Magellan is convinced that the Earth is round and suggests pointing west, passing under the continent discovered by Columbus and thus reaching Asia.
