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Somewhat
unknown, seemingly discreet at times, is the fact
that Christopher Columbus lived, married and
even had child (Diogo Columbo) on the island of Porto
Santo. Christopher Columbus in keeping with the typical
activities of his Genoese heritage - trade, plied
back and forth between the Madeiran Archipelago and
Lisbon selling sugar and sugar cane. It was only after
the untimely death of his wife (the daughter of the
Porto Santo Governor) that eventually led him to leave
the island and venture into the schemes and plans
to discover the New World, or the new route to India.
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The
Christopher Columbus Museum in Porto Santo. Picture
Courtesy of MadMulti - from their CD Madeira
Photos. Available for purchase from
http://www.madeira-shopping.com |
Christopher
Columbus was uniquely qualified for this adventure.
He had found evidence of handcrafted cane work washed
up ashore that did not resemble or could not be referenced
to any plant or handcraft till then seen in the known
world. These fragments of washed up debris indicated
foreign lands not yet discovered. It was his relationship
with Porto Santo and the building up of strength and
character on the long and open ocean voyages between
Madeira and the Iberian Peninsula that led him to
believe strongly the tales and myth that sailors along
these voyages would rant about. His travels to the
different courts of European Monarchs, his subsequent
funding by the Spanish court and his discoveries of
the Caribbean or the Americas are now well documented
needing no further discussion here.
The
Christopher Columbus Museum in the Vila Baleira of
Porto Santo is believed to be the former residence
of the Genoese Discoverer while he stayed and lived
on the island. There are artefacts, records, and even
several paintings showing the image of the face of
Christopher Columbus in the museum.
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