Basque town of Getaria remembers the first circumnavigator Elcano

Elcano assumed command of the remaining vessels after Magellan's death, sailing on from the Philippines to the Spice Islands. And he kept heading westwards - rounding the southern tip of Africa, the Cape of Good Hope, and from there sailing northwards back to Spain. Photo: Handout

The Basque town of Getaria is one of the most beautiful coastal villages in Spain. But its real claim to fame is a man from this town who became the first to voyage around the world 500 years ago.

Counter to what most people believe, that man wasn't Magellan.