Casa Museu Cristóvão Colombo, Porto Santo, Madeira
The Casa Museu Cristóvão Colombo (Casa Colombo) in Vila Baleira on Porto Santo is the most important museum on the island. Christopher Columbus came to the island in 1478 as a sugar trader and later married Felipa Moniz Perestrelo, the governor's daughter. The stone house where they supposedly lived is preserved as a museum dedicated to the explorer and his life.
Inside the museum, you can visit several rooms that have been recreated to reflect the period in which Columbus lived and the Age of Discoveries. These rooms showcase typical household items, furniture, and decor from the time, giving visitors a sense of the environment in which Columbus grew up.
History
The Casa Museu Cristóvão Colombo is housed in a traditional Madeiran house that is believed to have been at one time the home of Christopher Columbus. It has been restored and renovated over time.
In his mid-20s, Columbus moved to Portugal initially to Lisbon where he lived from 1477-85. He married Felipa Moniz Perestrelo, the daughter of a wealthy sugar grower and settled on the island of Porto Santo. It was here in 1479 or 1480, Columbus's son Diego was born.
During his time in Portugal and Porto Santo, Columbus gained valuable experience in navigation and exploration. It is said that he developed his interest in exploring new trade routes during his stay on the island. According to Jason W Moore, author of Madeira, Sugar, & the Conquest of Nature in the "First" Sixteenth Century, Columbus also learned the connection between sugar and slavery. Porto Santo's strategic location in the Atlantic Ocean made it an important stopover for ships traveling between Europe and Africa.
The museum opened in 1989.
Exhibits
The museum has areas dedicated to the strategic position of Porto Santo in the context of the Portuguese discoveries, Christopher Columbus and his relationship with the island of Madeira, and the importance that the islands had in the preparations for his epic voyages.
The museum's exhibits provide information about Columbus' voyages of discovery and his encounters with the New World. Visitors can learn about the challenges and adventures he faced, as well as the impact his discoveries had on world history and exploration.
In addition to the exhibits, the Casa Museu Cristóvão Colombo also houses a library and an archive, which contain a collection of books, documents, and research materials related to Columbus and the Age of Discovery. Researchers and scholars interested in studying the explorer's life and historical context can access these resources.
Another area concerns the sinking of the galleon Sloot ter Hooge, belonging to the Dutch India Company (VOC), near the coast of the island of Porto Santo.
Nearby is the historic Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Piedade.
Accommodation
Porto Santo and Madeira offer a range of accommodation options from five-star, luxury hotels and resorts to more homely and economical residencial and guesthouses. See some recommendations of places to stay below.
Try the recommended Hotel Porto Santo & Spa close to Paraíso Dourado, the Hotel Praia Dourada, the 4-star Vila Baleira Resort, with outdoor swimming pool, sauna and spa and the 4-star Hotel Torre Praia near the ocean. Also close to Paraíso Dourado is the Porto Santo My Love apartments.
See a full listing of hotels on Porto Santo and hotels in Madeira as a whole.
Access
Travessa da Sacristia, 2
9400-176 Porto Santo
Tel: 291 983 405
www: facebook.com/casacolombomuseudoportosanto
Hours: 10 am - 5 pm Monday to Saturday.
Admission is 2 Euros with concessions for students and seniors.
The museum is close to the main square in Vila Baleira.
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