And one more short posthumous journey of Columbus. A magnificent memorial complex known as the Faro a Colón (Columbus Lighthouse) was built in the capital city of Santo Domingo. It stands on a hill (across the Ozama River) in the eastern part of the city.
It was first conceived in the 19th century. At the 1923 Conference of Latin American Nations, delegates approved the idea of creating a monument honoring “Christopher Columbus—the discoverer of America and benefactor of mankind.” Between 1929 and 1931, several rounds of an international architectural competition were held. A total of 450 architects from 48 countries submitted designs. The winner was the young Scottish architect Joseph Lea Gleave.
Speaking about his project, Joseph Gleave explained that he had combined the image of the Egyptian Sphinx, a geological formation, and the sacred serpent of the Aztecs into a single architectural concept… Therefore, the monument was intended to be close and understandable to people. Whether this was fully achieved is open to debate. An educated visitor usually… stands speechless for a moment upon seeing the structure…
Construction of this enormous monument took more than sixty years. A site covering 100,000 square meters was cleared for the project. According to various estimates, the total cost reached between 40 and 70 million U.S. dollars. Construction began under President Trujillo and was completed during the presidency of Joaquín Balaguer. Originally conceived in the early 20th century as a lighthouse to serve as a navigational landmark for ships and aircraft, it eventually lost its practical navigational role. Today, on special commemorative occasions, as dusk falls, a gigantic cross is projected into the night sky above the Faro a Colón. The beams of light emerge from the very center of the structure… It is a magnificent sight and well worth seeing.
Inside the monumental building is a beautifully guarded white marble mausoleum.
There is also a museum dedicated to the history of the discovery of America.
Countries from around the world contributed gifts to the museum. This is probably how the small exhibition dedicated to Russia came into being… The paintings depict Russian churches, birch trees, and snowy landscapes. They bring a pleasantly cool atmosphere to the vibrant colors of the Latin American sections of the museum.
On October 6, 1992, marking the 500th anniversary of the Admiral’s arrival in the New World, the remains of the great navigator Christopher Columbus were ceremonially transferred from the Cathedral of Saint Mary to the Faro a Colón Memorial.
Faro a Colón (Columbus Lighthouse). Santo Domingo Este, Villa Duarte district, Av. Mirador del Este. Open: Tue–Sun, 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.; closed Mondays. Tel. +1 (809) 591-1492. Admission is charged, but the entrance fee is inexpensive.