Final thoughts on my trip…

My trip brought me closer to the spirit of Christopher Columbus because it helped me understand his world better. It gave me insight into the dangers he faced and the courage he had to embody to embark on his legendary voyages. He remains as always a great hero to me.

Azulejo Mural in the Plaza de Espana (Seville, Spain)

This famous tableau depicts the reception of Christopher Columbus by King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella following his return from his first voyage in 1493. This mural is one of 48 tiled alcoves circling the plaza, built for the Ibero-American Exposition of 1929.

La Rábida Monastery

This beautiful bronze statue is located at the Rábida Monastery in Huelva, Spain. It was sculpted by Alberto Germán Franco to mark the 500th anniversary of Columbus’ death. The monastery supported Columbus in his mission to secure funding for his first voyage. The head of the monastery, Friar Juan Pérez, who had been personal confessor to Queen Isabella, interceded on Columbus’s behalf with her royal highness.

Muelle de las Carabelas

The “Wharf of the Caravels” in Palos de la Frontera, Spain features full-scale replicas of Christopher Columbus’s ships. Visitors can go aboard and explore the ships. I could imagine myself on board with Columbus, and I felt like a sailor myself. The ships are very small compared to ships today, and you realize how brave the sailors were to go to sea in such small watercraft.

Monumento a Colón

This is a monument to Christopher Columbus located in the Plaza de Colón in Madrid, Spain. It is a towering 17 meters tall. It was built in 1885. At the very top, is a marble statue of Columbus holding the Castilian flag and pointing toward the Americas.

Albertis Castle in Genoa, Italy

This was a statue I really wanted to see! It is a famous 1872 marble sculpture by Giulio Monteverde entitled “Colombo Giovinetto.” The man who built Albertis Castle, Enrico Alberto d'Albertis, was a sea captain who had a deep personal devotion to Christopher Columbus, just like me. He commissioned this statue and placed it in the western loggia of his castle, strategically facing the city’s harbor and looking towards San Salvador.

Galata Maritime Museum of the Sea in Genoa, Italy

This is a reproduction of part of a historical world map called the 1375 Catalan Atlas. The original is at the National Library of France in Paris. This shows historical Mediterranean and global trade networks.

Galata Maritime Museum of the Sea in Genoa, Italy

This is a 3-dimensional representation of Columbus’s face based on historical portraits at the interactive “Sala Colombo” exhibit of Columbus so that blind visitors can feel his face and imagine what he looked like.

Galata Maritime Museum of the Sea in Genoa, Italy

At the Galata Maritime Museum, I was able to “talk” to Columbus.

One question I asked him was, “What was the Book of Privileges?” and he explained that it was a collection of contracts, decrees, papal letters, and royal charters that he had compiled in 1502 before his 4th voyage in order to secure the rights, revenues, and titles owed to Columbus and his heirs by the Spanish Crown.

Casa di Cristoforo Columbo…

Above the doorway, is an inscription dedicating the site to Christopher Columbus. It says, “No house is more worthy of renown. Here in his father’s house, Christopher Columbus spent his childhood and early youth.”

Casa Di Cristoforo Columbo

Christopher Columbus was born in 1451 in this house in Genoa. Being there felt like I was walking in the footsteps of Columbus. I presented a book I wrote about Christopher Columbus to the staff at the Christopher Columbus House, and they were very happy to receive it. I felt like a celebrity.

Walking in the Footsteps of Columbus…

This summer, my parents and I travelled to Europe to explore the sites most associated with Christopher Columbus. It was a very exciting trip from Genoa, Italy all the way to Madrid, Spain. The pizza was delicious everywhere, except for the pesky olives. My favorite pizza pie was in Columbus’ birthplace Genoa, which I learned is also the birthplace of pesto. Yum.

“The Story of Christopher Columbus” - Review of the 1948 short film

An exciting version of the famous Christopher Columbus story.

The film follows a man named Christopher Columbus as he tries to secure royal funds for his voyage.

It follows a boy named Christopher Columbus as he grows into manhood. At age ten, a mariner tells him that all who truly know the sea, believe the earth is round. This gives Columbus the idea that one can sail west to reach east.

As he grows into manhood, his idea begins to ferment until he contacts Toscanelli, another scholar who believes the earth is round. Toscanelli provides him with a map westward. Under this knowledge he goes to the king of Portugal for help, but he is rejected. So he goes to the court of Spain with his son Ferdinand to beseech the Catholic monarchs to fund his project. On the way, he faces opposition from various court figures. But in the end, he triumphs. After being denied and walking away from the court of Spain for demanding too high of a price, the messenger calls him back in, telling him that the Queen has consented to his project. He acquires three ships and crews to sail them. The narrator tells the audience that many stories have been told of the men who joined this daring expedition.

So they set sail but it isn’t long before trouble begins.The Pinta has lost its rudder. After many delays, they repair it and then continue their journey westward, but the crew becomes more uneasy. They beg Columbus to turn back, but he continues on. Just about when some of them are about to club Columbus and throw him overboard, twigs and leaves are spotted, sure signs that land is near. After some more days, they finally find land on the island of San Salvador. After going ashore, Columbus claims the land for Spain and names it San Salvador. They see the Indians and begin peacefully trading with him. The narrator tells us that Columbus made three more trips to America, but failed to find the riches expected. His enemies made sport of him and he died never knowing he discovered the new world.

The short is well acted with a commanding presence from the lead.