THE THREE CARAVELLE

n.141 cm.101x125

semi-gloss su tela

Cristoforo Colombo, in 1492, with the Nina, the Pinta and the Santa Maria, after reaching Cuba, he continued his journey to discover the New World, Martín Alonso Pinzón, captain of the Pinta and second in command of the fleet.

The latter, he had heard from the natives of the immense wealth of the island of Babeque (In pre-colonial era, the island Babeque, or Quisqueya, the mother of all lands, later renamed Hispaniola), and after a few attempts with Columbus decided to carry out research without permission.

The fact is that for about two months, the fleet was reduced to only two caravels, with which it was explored the northern coast of Haiti.

They arrived in the bay so that Columbus called "Bahia de los Mosquitos" and there was talk of an island shaped like a turtle that the browser called "Tortuga".

Always believe that you are in Asia, Colombo confused the indigenous word Cibao (Cibao This is, at present, the region north of the Dominican Republic), with rich Cipango, or Japan, in search of which immediately began traveling beyond Cape Haiti .

On the night of December 25, the Santa Maria ran aground on a coral reef and was abandoned.

The admiral, left with only one caravel, had to leave part of the crew (39 people) with the promise that he would return to take them back on his second voyage across the ocean. He then build a fort - La Navidad far from the scene of the accident.

Then the Indians said they had seen "another house on the water" (Pinta), but to no avail the message that Columbus tried to send. On January 4, we tried again to get in touch while 5 fleet gathered near Monte Christi.

Before returning decided to take both ships aground on Cape Samana for restoration work.

  On January 13, they were attacked by a hostile tribe which Columbus thought they were the dreaded Caribs (cannibals). In the clashes there were only a few injuries but anyway Columbus decided to leave as soon as possible at the dawn of January 16, 1493.