Castillo Colomares Monument, Benalmádena

This is a monument castle that, through its architecture, tells the story of the discovery of a new world, badly named AMERICA. It was Christopher Columbus, who with his great faith, presented to the Catholic Monarchs his plan to travel west to reach the Indies. That was his dream.

Columbus was a great navigator, educated in geography, astronomy, the Holy Scriptures, mathematics, humanities, etc. He wrote in classical Latin and in beautiful Spanish. He never wrote in Italian or Portuguese. Seven years before the discovery, Columbus presented his plan to other states, but only the Catholic Monarchs accepted it.

He needed marine experts for his ventures and managed to find them in Palos de la Frontera, province of Huelva. It was Martín Alonso Pinzón who managed to get these true “sea lions” to accompany the Admiral. We have placed the head of a bronze horse as a symbol of that great sailor from Huelva as a Pegasus or mythical horse.

It was the crown of Castile and Queen Isabel who helped him and believed in him, represented in the monument by their shields in bronze to show gratitude and perpetual recognition to them.

The 96 crew members, almost all of them Andalusians, left Palos on August 3, 1492, and after a few days of provisioning and repair of their ships in the Canary Islands they left for the unknown and arrived at an islet 33 days later. It was the day of Pilar on October 12, 1492. The Island was baptized with the name of SAN SALVADOR, and the natives called it "Isla de las Iguanas". In the Castle there is a small oratory with the image of our Lord Savior, accompanied by a small bell in memory of the Island.

The three ships that Columbus deployed for the crossing, the Niña, the Pinta and the Santa Maria are also represented in this monument. La Niña at the top of the building, under the arch of La Rabida, the Monastery that sheltered Columbus when he arrived from Portugal. La Pinta, on the main facade, which was the Pinzones brothers´ship, with the horse Pegasus supporting it. Santa María, isolated from the other two, because this ship suffered an accident and sank on Christmas Day, in Santo Domingo. The crew of around 39 sailors stayed on the Island and did not return to Spain, since they were killed by the natives.

Columbus died after making four trips and at the Colomares Monument Castle we have created a mausoleum with a beautiful Gothic rosette. This is his fifth trip, to Eternity, but no one knows for sure where his remains are or where he was born.

It was Spain, and Andalusia in particular, who played a major part in this discovery that undoubtedly changed the world, for good according to some and for bad according to others. Fact is that Columbus made this discovery and here we have the stones of the Colomares Monument Castle to tell his story.

LOCATION

 

OPENING TIMES

Autumn & winter: Wednesday to Sunday - 10AM to 6PM
Spring: Wednesday to Sunday - 10AM to 7PM
Summer: Wednesday to Sunday - 10AM to 2PM and 5PM to 9PM

PRICES

Adults: €2,50 Children & pensioners: €2,00

CONTACT

Email: colomares@hotmail.com
Tel.: 952 44 88 21
Mobile: 678 03 40 11
Website: http://www.castillomonumentocolomares.com/index.html