Leon Pancaldo, also called Leone Pancaldo (1488 or 1490 – 1538) was a Genoese explorer. Pancaldo was born in Savona in 1488 or 1490. He participated in the first circumnavigation of the globe led by

Ferdinand Magellan Ferdinand Magellan ( or ; pt, Fernão de Magalhães, ; es, link=no, Fernando de Magallanes, ; 4 February 1480 – 27 April 1521) was a Portuguese explorer. He is best known for having planned and led the 1519 Spanish expedition to the Eas ...

. He was captured by the Portuguese in the

Moluccas The Maluku Islands (; Indonesian: ''Kepulauan Maluku'') or the Moluccas () are an archipelago in the east of Indonesia. Tectonically they are located on the Halmahera Plate within the Molucca Sea Collision Zone. Geographically they are located ...

and was held prisoner for a long time. In 1534 he attempted another voyage, but in 1538 he died at the River Plate in South America, possibly following conflicts with indigenous people.

Commemoration

* The main tower in Savona and a street there are named after him. * The World War 2 Italian

Navigatori class destroyer The Navigatori class were a group of Italian destroyers built in 1928–1929 for the (Royal Italian Navy), named after Italian explorers. They fought in World War II. Just one vessel, ''Nicoloso Da Recco'', survived the conflict. Design These s ...

''Leone Pancaldo'' was named in his honour. 1538 deaths People from Savona Explorers from the Republic of Genoa Year of birth uncertain {{italy-bio-stub