We probably all know about the renowned Genoese explorer whose famous expedition across the Atlantic in 1492 is famous for his ‘discovery’ of America but did you know about his connection with the city of the Tribes?
Cristoforo Colombo was born in 1451 in Genoa, northern Italy. He became a master navigator and admiral. He has long been called the ‘discoverer’ of the New World, although Leif Eriksson and the Vikings had visited North America five centuries earlier. In August 1492, Columbus’s expedition set sail with three ships: the Niña, Pinta, and Santa María. After more than two months of sailing across the Atlantic Ocean, the fleet spotted what would eventually be known as the Bahamas on October 12, 1492. Although Columbus may not have discovered the Americas, it was his arrival and subsequent voyages that began the exploration and exploitation of North and South America. Columbus made his transatlantic voyages under the sponsorship of Ferdinand II and Isabella I, the Catholic Monarchs of Aragon, Castile, and León in Spain. He was granted the title of ‘Admiral of the Ocean Sea’ in April 1492 and was awarded further grants and privileges by the Spanish crown throughout his life. Columbus died in Valladolid, Spain, in 1506. He is buried in Seville Cathedral.
Columbus visited Galway in 1477, a visit attested in his own hand in a margin note on his copy of Imago mundi, which still survives. Some even believe he came to Galway seeking information on the existence of land west of here. He is believed to have prayed at St. Nicholas’ Church in the city during his visit.
In 1992, on the quincentenary of Columbus’s first voyage to the Americas, the city of Genoa presented a monument to the city of Galway to commemorate Columbus’ visit to the city. The sculpture, which is a stone’s throw from the school, is designed to look like a seabird. The inscription reads:
‘On These Shores Around 1477 The Genoese Sailor Cristoforo Colombo Found Sure Signs Of Land Beyond The Atlantic. From the City of Genoa to the City of Galway, 29th June 1992.’
