ITINERARY: Almeria, Moclin, Pinos Puente, Santa Fe, Granada.
The voyage of discovery became a reality when Christopher Columbus, originally from Genoa, Italy, secured the support of the Catholic King and Queen of Spain. Following the capture of Almería, Columbus found himself in the service of the King, taking up residence in the court's chosen location. This was none other than the Alcazaba of Almería, a former Arab fortress from the 12th-13th centuries, which had been reconstructed with the addition of Gothic elements. It is believed that Columbus may have resided here during this pivotal period in history.
Alcazaba of Almería on the map here.
In Granada, as part of the royal retinue, Columbus is believed to have stayed in the strategic Castle of Moclín, which guarded the way to Granada. The Castle of Moclín, also known as Hins Al-Muqlin (literally the fortress of the two pupils), was built in the mid-13th century to mark the frontier between the kingdoms of Granada and Castile. It was constructed to help defend the Nasrid Kingdom of Granada. The castle is located atop the fortified town of Moclín in the region of Loja. It dates back to the Moorish period, the fourteenth century, although some elements are older. The castle was one of the best defensive parts of the Nasrid period, and the only one which has a full belt of walls.
Castle of Moclín on the map here.
These events leading up to the Discovery bring us to Puente de Pinos (Pinos Bridge) in Pinos Puente, a bridge of Arab construction dating back to the 9th century. As legend has it, this is where the emissaries of the Catholic King and Queen caught up with the seafarer, believed to be Christopher Columbus, and persuaded him to return after he had left disheartened by the lack of results. This bridge served as a customs and passenger control point for those travelling the route of the caliphate. The bridge, for some, is the only bridge from the Visigoths in Spain, although it seems to have been built by the Arabs in the 10th century. The town of Pinos Puente is located in the heart of the Vega de Granada and is steeped in history, traditions, and gastronomy. Its history begins in the Prehistoric era, becoming an Iberian nucleus, a Roman city, a Muslim city, and an important industrial nucleus at the beginning of the 20th century.
You can view the strategic location of Pinos Puente on the map here.
With Granada reconquered in 1492, events were to change the direction of the future admiral's fortunes: he had a decisive audience with the King and Queen in the Torre of Comares in the Alhambra; in this outstanding piece of Arab architecture, in the Salon de Embajadores (map), the financial details of the voyage of discovery were finalised. On 12th April, 1492, the Capitulaciones (The contract) were signed between the King and the Queen and Christopher Columbus in the city of Santa Fe (map); this historical city which staged the agreement which was to change the world, was designated as the base for the siege of Granada; of a regular layout, its most outstanding features are the four monumental gateways, the Ancient Casa Real (Royal House) and the Iglesia Mayor (Church). The name of Santa Fe was to be used in many of the towns of the New World.
The culmination of this itinerary is a visit to the Capilla Real (The Royal Chapel), also known as the Cathedral of Granada (map). This symbol of the patrons of the voyage of discovery is a magnificent Gothic structure that houses the pantheon of the Catholic King and Queen. Their sepulchres, crafted in the most exquisite Renaissance style, are a sight to behold. The city of Granada, once the last remaining Arab stronghold in Spain, is rich with diverse buildings that bear witness to the intense negotiations that took place during this pivotal period in history. The Kingdom of Granada was eventually conquered, marking the end of an era and the beginning of a new chapter in the annals of exploration.
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