Columbus Lighthouse is located in the capital of the Dominican Republic. This place was chosen due to the fact that the islands became the first in the list of discoveries of the navigator, but the name does not at all mean that the building is used for its intended purpose. The structure is not a signal to sailors, but it has spotlights emitting powerful beams of light in the form of a cross.
History of the construction of the Columbus Lighthouse
Talk about the need to erect a monument in honor of Christopher Columbus began at the beginning of the 20th century. Since then, charitable collections for large-scale construction have been organized, ideas have been put forward regarding the type of future structure. Due to the grandiose plans, work began only in 1986 and lasted six years. The museum was launched in 1992, just on the 500th anniversary of the discovery of America.
The right to officially open the museum was transferred to Pope John Paul II, since the monument is not only a tribute to the merits of the great navigator, but also a symbol of Christianity. This is confirmed by the shape of the building of the museum and the emitted light in the form of a cross.
The construction of the large-scale monument cost more than $ 70 million, so its construction was often suspended. At the moment, the surrounding area is still a little ennobled and even deserted, but in the future it is planned to plant greenery.
The structure of the monument and its heritage
The Columbus Monument is made of reinforced concrete slabs, which are laid out in the form of an elongated cross. Taking a photo from above, you can see the Christian symbol in all its glory. The height of the building is 33 m, the width reaches 45 m, and the length of the building is up to 310 meters. The structure resembles a cascading pyramid, reminiscent of the buildings of the Indians.
The roof of the building is equipped with 157 floodlights projecting a cross at night. It can be seen at a fairly large distance from the museum. The walls are decorated with marble with the sayings of great sailors engraved on them. In addition, you can find the statements of the Pope, who was awarded the honor of opening a museum significant for history.
The main attraction is the remains of Christopher Columbus, although it is not entirely certain that they are kept here. The Columbus Lighthouse has also become the home of the armored Popemobile and the Papal Casula, which tourists can admire during the excursion.
It is also interesting to study the historical finds associated with Indian tribes and the first colonialists. In Santo Domingo, manuscripts of the Mayan and Aztec tribes are on display. Some of them have not yet been deciphered, but work on them continues. Many of the rooms in the museum are dedicated to the countries that participated in the creation of the monument. There is also a hall with symbols from Russia, where nesting dolls and balalaika are kept.
Controversy over the remains of Columbus
The Cathedral in Seville also declares that it keeps the remains of Columbus, while the truth has not been found out. Since the death of the great navigator, his burial has often changed, moving first to America, then to Europe. The final haven was supposed to be Seville, but after a short period of time, information surfaced that the remains were kept in Santo Domingo all the time, as a result of which they became the property of a new museum.
According to the results of the exhumation carried out in Seville, it was not possible to give one hundred percent certainty about the DNA belonging to Christopher Columbus, and the government of the Dominican Republic does not give permission for the examination of the historical heritage. Thus, there is still no exact data where the remains of the discoverer of America are located, but the Columbus Lighthouse is worthy of close attention even without them.
