Set eyes upon Genoa’s most famous historic figure at this grand monument commemorating the great explorer and the city’s long maritime heritage.
The Christopher Columbus Monument honors the legendary sailor who was born in Genoa in 1451. Begin a Columbus-themed tour of the city at this impressively large statue and contemplate how the world changed through the actions of this one man.
Christopher Columbus was born in a city where maritime traditions were flourishing. Despite Spanish and Portuguese claims on his nationality, the discovery of a document in the Genoese state archives in 1904 definitively confirms his Italian citizenship. Imagine the young and ambitious sailor departing for the unknown as you gaze up at his proud statue.
Appreciate the statue in its entirety from a distance before getting closer to notice the inscriptions and reliefs. The statue depicts Columbus with long, flowing hair and dressed in a tabard and large open cloak. His left hand rests atop an anchor to signify his maritime heritage.
Get up close to notice the intricate carvings and details. On the four corners of the base are four smaller statues, representing Piety, Science, Constancy and Prudence. In between these are bas-reliefs depicting scenes from Columbus’ life. Walk around the monument to see the explorer before the Council of Salamanca, Columbus erecting a cross in the New World in 1492 and Columbus being celebrated by the Kings of Spain on his return from his first voyage. The final image depicts Columbus in chains, returning to Spain.
There are various inscriptions in the monument. Practice your Italian as you try to decipher them, or ask a local to translate. One of the most poetic reads, "Having divined a world, he found it for the perennial benefit of the old one."
The Christopher Columbus Monument stands in Piazza Acquaverde in the heart of Genoa, a short distance from the central train station. Take a slow walk through the old, narrow lanes that weave from the seafront or hop on one of the many city buses which stop right outside. The vast size of the statue means it is unmissable.
