Christopher Columbus’ House

The house of Christopher Columbus, in Genoa

The house of Christopher Columbus is a modest dwelling of the historic centre of Genoa, where would have been born, around 1451, the famous navigator. The Genoa audio-guided tour stops here to evoke this place laden with symbol, located in the former district of the artisans, where the father of Christopher, carder and wine merchant, would have installed his workshop, and that the city has made its own as proof of the Genoese origins of the explorer.

History

Christopher Columbus, this name speaks to you, but certainly not as much as to Genoa. Of him, you know the deep passion for exploration, that led him in 1492 to the lands of America. But his place of birth remains a question mark. Several historians have tried to lift the veil, leading to a double hypothesis: Columbus was Genoese, and this house, in front of which you stand, would be the one where he was born around 1451. In the fifteenth century, the district concentrated above all a community of artisans, among whom a certain Domenico Colombo, the father of Christopher, wine merchant but carder above all. This profession, widespread in medieval Italy, consisted of untangling the textile fibres before combing them with a carder. It is on the ground floor of this little house that he would have installed his workshop, and it is estimated that the Colombo lived there until Christopher's nine years. The current building is in reality a reconstruction of the eighteenth century of the original house; bought by the municipality in 1887, it has become a symbol of the Genoese origins of the navigator.

What to see

Here you discover a modest house of the historic centre where would have been born around 1451 Christopher Columbus, in the former district of the artisans, his father exercising there the trade of carder; reconstruction of the eighteenth century bought by the city in 1887, it symbolises the Genoese origins of the navigator. The house of Christopher Columbus is a place laden with history in Genoa. It is a fine stop, to be explored on foot.

Practical information

The house of Christopher Columbus lies near the Porta Soprana, at the entrance of the historic centre of Genoa, reachable on foot. You admire its façade from the street; the interior access follows the hours and conditions in force, which vary. It is best to enquire before coming.

Was Christopher Columbus really born in Genoa?

His place of birth remains debated, but several historians lean towards Genoese origins: this house would be the one where he was born around 1451, in a district of artisans where his father, Domenico Colombo, exercised the trade of carder; the current building is a reconstruction of the eighteenth century, bought by the city in 1887 as a symbol of these origins.

Where is the house of Christopher Columbus in Genoa?

Near the Porta Soprana, at the entrance of the historic centre of Genoa, in Italy.