{"id":250239,"date":"2025-05-27T12:25:00","date_gmt":"2025-05-27T11:25:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pablouria.es\/?p=250239"},"modified":"2026-10-06T18:39:06","modified_gmt":"2026-10-06T17:39:06","slug":"hernan-cortes-route-map-el-sueno-de-la-serpiente","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pablouria.es\/en\/hernan-cortes-route-map-el-sueno-de-la-serpiente\/","title":{"rendered":"Hern\u00e1n Cort\u00e9s Route Map for the Novel El sue\u00f1o de la serpiente"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As an illustrator, few things excite me as much as creating maps for novels. One of my latest commissions was a <strong>Hern\u00e1n Cort\u00e9s route map<\/strong> for <em>El sue\u00f1o de la serpiente<\/em> (<em>The Dream of the Serpent<\/em>), <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.es\/El-sue%C3%B1o-serpiente-Jordi-Canga\/dp\/B0FCS8KCJS\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">the new novel by Jordi Canga<\/a>. It is a historical thriller that weaves past and present together, and it gave me the chance to immerse myself in one of the most fascinating episodes in history: Hern\u00e1n Cort\u00e9s\u2019s route to Tenochtitlan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When I received the project, I knew it was not just a decorative illustration. Maps in literature are much more than visual companions: they are doorways into worlds that no longer exist but that readers can still travel with their eyes. Here, the challenge was to translate a journey of epic proportions, Cort\u00e9s\u2019s expedition from the coast of the Gulf of Mexico to the great Mexica city, into a format that was useful, evocative and narrative at the same time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"the-novel-behind-the-map\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">The novel behind the map<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-rank-math-toc-block\" id=\"rank-math-toc\"><h2>Hern\u00e1n Cort\u00e9s route map<\/h2><nav><ul><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#the-novel-behind-the-map\">The novel behind the map<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#the-historical-route-of-hernan-cortes\">The historical route of Hern\u00e1n Cort\u00e9s<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#building-the-hernan-cortes-route-map\">Building the Hern\u00e1n Cort\u00e9s route map<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#the-value-of-maps-in-storytelling\">The value of maps in storytelling<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#a-personal-reflection\">A personal reflection<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#need-a-historical-map-for-your-book\">Need a historical map for your book?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Before talking about the illustration, it helps to understand the story behind it. <em>El sue\u00f1o de la serpiente<\/em> takes us from the misty mountains of Asturias to the remains of the Mexica empire, in a plot that mixes archaeology, conspiracies and deep emotions. A father and daughter, Carlos and Roma, pursue a hidden legacy in which the past has the power to redefine the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With that background, the map could not be a mere geographic diagram. It had to convey the scale of the journey and the tension of the conquest while inviting readers to follow in the protagonists\u2019 footsteps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"697\" src=\"https:\/\/pablouria.es\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Mapa-Novela-El-sueno-de-la-Serpiente-color-pablouria-1024x697.jpg\" alt=\"Hern\u00e1n Cort\u00e9s route map in colour for El sue\u00f1o de la serpiente by Pablo Ur\u00eda\" class=\"wp-image-248657\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pablouria.es\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Mapa-Novela-El-sueno-de-la-Serpiente-color-pablouria-980x667.jpg 980w, https:\/\/pablouria.es\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Mapa-Novela-El-sueno-de-la-Serpiente-color-pablouria-480x327.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"the-historical-route-of-hernan-cortes\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">The historical route of Hern\u00e1n Cort\u00e9s<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In 1519, Hern\u00e1n Cort\u00e9s landed on the Gulf coast of Mexico, where he founded Villa Rica de la Vera Cruz. From there, the expedition headed inland, through Cempoala, Tlaxcala and Cholula, and crossed the mountains between the great volcanoes before reaching <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Tenochtitlan\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Tenochtitlan<\/a> in November of that year. It was a long, hard march that changed the history of two continents, and it is the backbone of this Hern\u00e1n Cort\u00e9s route map.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"building-the-hernan-cortes-route-map\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Building the Hern\u00e1n Cort\u00e9s route map<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For this project I designed <strong>two versions: one in black and white and one in colour<\/strong>. Both show the same route but serve different uses, from the interior pages of the book to promotion and other formats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In both cases, my aim as a map illustrator was to create a piece that was legible, attractive and true to the spirit of the book. It is not just about placing names and places, but about inviting readers to travel with their eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Every element is designed to balance historical accuracy and narrative power. The result is an illustration that works as a guide and as an evocation, helping readers place themselves in the journey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"697\" src=\"https:\/\/pablouria.es\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Mapa-Novela-El-sueno-de-la-Serpiente-bn-pablouria-1024x697.jpg\" alt=\"Black and white map of Hern\u00e1n Cort\u00e9s route to Tenochtitlan by Pablo Ur\u00eda\" class=\"wp-image-248658\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pablouria.es\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Mapa-Novela-El-sueno-de-la-Serpiente-bn-pablouria-980x667.jpg 980w, https:\/\/pablouria.es\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Mapa-Novela-El-sueno-de-la-Serpiente-bn-pablouria-480x327.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"the-value-of-maps-in-storytelling\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">The value of maps in storytelling<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I have always believed that maps in literature play a double role. On the one hand, they offer orientation, helping readers follow the plot and understand the movements of the characters. On the other, they spark the imagination and become narrative objects in their own right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In <em>El sue\u00f1o de la serpiente<\/em>, the map works as a bridge between the novel\u2019s two timelines. Readers can see how Cort\u00e9s\u2019s past overlaps with the protagonists\u2019 present, creating a visual connection that strengthens the story. Read more in my guide <a href=\"https:\/\/pablouria.es\/en\/what-is-an-illustrated-map\/\">What is an illustrated map<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"a-personal-reflection\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">A personal reflection<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As an illustrator, I love working on projects where historical research and creativity go hand in hand. This map allowed me to combine rigorous research with artistic freedom, something I consider essential in my work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Every stroke was designed to be faithful to the spirit of the book while adding my own voice. The result is not just a complement to the novel but a piece that stands on its own, inviting readers to explore a world that no longer exists but lives on in collective memory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"need-a-historical-map-for-your-book\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Need a historical map for your book?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you are a writer or a publisher looking for a map illustrator, interior illustrations or book covers that raise your readers\u2019 experience, I would be happy to collaborate on your project. Take a look at other historical maps such as the <a href=\"https:\/\/pablouria.es\/en\/kingdom-of-granada-map-illustrated\/\">Kingdom of Granada map<\/a> or my <a href=\"https:\/\/pablouria.es\/en\/map-illustration\/\">map illustration<\/a> page. Maps are more than drawings: they are silent storytellers that enrich stories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pablouria.es\/en\/contact\/\">Get in touch<\/a> and let\u2019s give your next book a unique illustration that captures readers from the first page.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As an illustrator, few things excite me as much as creating maps for novels. One of my latest commissions was a Hern\u00e1n Cort\u00e9s route map for El sue\u00f1o de la serpiente (The Dream of the Serpent), the new novel by Jordi Canga. It is a historical thriller that weaves past and present together, and it [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":17,"featured_media":250238,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"off","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","_joinchat":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[396],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-250239","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-illustrated-maps"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pablouria.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/250239","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pablouria.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pablouria.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pablouria.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/17"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pablouria.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=250239"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/pablouria.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/250239\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":250363,"href":"https:\/\/pablouria.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/250239\/revisions\/250363"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pablouria.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/250238"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pablouria.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=250239"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pablouria.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=250239"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pablouria.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=250239"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}