Columbus

Christóbal Colón or Christopher Columbus, who does not know him, is one of the most famous explorers of history. Columbus was born in the Italian city of Genoa. In Genoa, like many other boys, he was trained as a sailor. Later in his life he moved to Portugal and later to Castile.

He made his name through his discovery of America in 1492, under the Castilian flag (Castile is the forerunner of Spain). Since Castile took over America, after Columbus discovered this continent, Columbus became a notorious man of history.

The countries of Castile and Aragon were called Spain in the 16th century. These 2 independent countries were given the same king Charles V. When Columbus went to America, Charles's grandmother Isabel I was Queen of Castile and Charles's grandfather Fernando II was King of Aragon. This King and Queen have financed Columbus his world trip.

In August 1492, Columbus began the first trip to America from Spain with 90 crew members. Columbus then traveled to America several times and in 1493 he left Spain for the second time to the newly discovered country, this second trip he prepared in Monasterio de la Cartuja in Seville.

After his death, the body of Columbus continued to travel. In 1506 he was buried in the Franciscan monastery in Valladolid. Three years later, Columbus was reburied in the family grave in Seville by his son Diego. After the death of Diego Columbus, the body of Columbus began to travel again, and he was set up in the Cathedral of Santo Domingo. When Napoleon occupied Spain in the 18th century, Columbus went to the New World. His body was brought to Havana in Cuba. At the end of the 19th century this colony was lost, and the Spanish brought Christopher Columbus back to Spain.

In Seville there are several places to visit and/or observe  Columbus, such as:

• Seville Cathedral: Tomb of Columbus
• Monasterio de la Cartuja: Here Columbus prepared his 2nd trip and after his death he also buried here for a while.
• Institucion Colombina: A library with notes from Columbus de Travels or Marco Polo.
• Monument in Jardines Murillo: A monument to Isabel and Fernando, king and queen who have financed Columbus for his world trip
• Huevo de Colon: The egg of Columbus, a gift that the Russians have donated for the worldexpo.